Burkina Faso: Military Regime Suspends Student Union Amid Arrests

The military-led government in Burkina Faso has suspended the Union générale des étudiants du Burkina (Ugeb), the country’s leading student organization, for a renewable three-month period. The decision, announced by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, cites allegations of “glorifying terrorism” as the justification.

The suspension comes amid a broader crackdown on civil liberties under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup d’état in September 2022. Over the past few weeks, nearly a thousand associations have been dissolved or suspended under a new law regulating freedom of association.

Student Leader Detained in Overnight Raid

The Ugeb reports that a dozen of its members, including President Wilfried Bazo, were arrested in a pre-dawn raid on their headquarters in Ouagadougou. Witnesses described armed men in civilian clothing forcibly detaining the students, some of whom were reportedly taken to undisclosed locations. The organization condemns the move as a “severe violation of freedoms” and demands their immediate release.

Sharp Criticism Targets Military Rule

Days before the suspension, the Ugeb had publicly condemned what it described as “systematic violations of democratic, union, and political freedoms” justified under the pretext of counterterrorism. The student movement also accused the military government of failing to restore security amid escalating jihadist violence gripping large parts of the country.

Judicial Inquiry Launched Against Student Group

On the same day the suspension was announced, the prosecutor’s office revealed the opening of a judicial investigation into the Ugeb, targeting its “writings and statements.” Human rights observers have warned that these actions signal a dangerous erosion of fundamental freedoms. In a statement, an international rights group argued that silencing students will not address Burkina Faso’s deepening security and governance crises.