In Burkina Faso, the government announces the dissolution of all political parties as well as the removal of the legal framework governing their activities. A decision recorded by a decree approved Thursday by the Council of Ministers.
According to Interior Minister Émile Zerbo, the removal is part of a broader effort to "rebuild the state" after what he called widespread abuses and dysfunctions within the country's multi-party system.
According to him, a government study revealed that the proliferation of political parties fuels divisions and weakens social cohesion.
Burkina Faso has been ruled by a military regime since the coup in September 2022, the second of the year. Since then, the government has repeatedly cited the deterioration of the country's security situation –fueled by militants linked to Al-Qaeda and Daesh – to justify exceptional measures.
Initially scheduled for July 2024, the elections were postponed several times, with the government citing instability.
Before the coup, the country had more than 100 registered political parties, 15 of which were represented in Parliament after the 2020 general elections.
