Human Rights Watch reported on Wednesday that Burkina Faso’s regime has intensified its oppressive strategies. A notice of required participation in government security operations was sent to twelve journalists, civil society activists, and opposition party members. This ploy appears to be a bid to stifle dissent.
Authorities claim these conscription orders are legitimized by a “general mobilization” plan. This year-long initiative was announced on April 13 this year by Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina’s interim president who assumed power following a coup. The plan’s stated intention is to confront the escalating terrorism situation in the country, and regain control of 40 percent of the country’s territory currently under jihadist control.
The mobilization plan empowers the authorities to conscript individuals from 18 years of age to contribute to the combat against jihadists. It also aims to equip the authorities with “all necessary means” to counter increasing violent activities, which are believed to stem from the Islamic State (IS).
Traore’s rise to power in the October 2022 coup followed the ouster of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, supposedly due to his inability to effectively counter a jihadist insurgency.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s senior Sahel researcher, pointed out that the Burkinabe junta is capitalising on the emergency legislation not only to suppress peaceful dissent but also to punish critics. Instead of reacting to the troublesome Islamist armed groups with further human rights abuses, the government ought to focus on protecting civilians and maintaining basic rights, such as freedom of expression and speech.
Locally active organizations like the Burkinabe Movement of Human and Peoples’ Rights (MBDHP) have expressed opposition to this discerning application of the mobilization to domestic civil society groups, media organizations, and trade unions. The CGT-B, a major multinational trade union, also criticized the “arbitrary” requisitions and the persecution of citizens voicing opposition to the transitional authorities.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, the Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso, which originated from neighbouring Mali in 2015, has resulted in the displacement of over five million people, and death of more than 17,000 civilians and military personnel.