Burkina Faso clamps down on student union over security criticism

The Union générale des étudiants burkinabè (Ugeb) has accused the military-led government of Burkina Faso of failing to deliver on security promises made by Captain Ibrahim Traoré after his 2022 coup. The accusation came during commemorations for the 36th anniversary of the assassination of student activist Dabo Boukary under the regime of Blaise Compaoré.

Days after the Ugeb’s public statement, unidentified armed individuals in civilian clothing conducted what the association described as forceful and illegal arrests of students, including the union’s president.

Government suspends student union, cites terrorism allegations

Following the arrests, the Burkinabè government suspended the Ugeb for three months, renewable, on grounds of ‘apology for terrorism’, according to a statement from the Ministry of Territorial Administration. During the suspension, the union is barred from organizing any activities.

The prosecutor’s office at the Ouagadougou High Court has since opened a judicial investigation into the allegations, citing their ‘gravity’. Officials suggest the actions may constitute offenses under the Burkinabè penal code, potentially amounting to ‘undermining the morale of defense and security forces’.

The prosecutor emphasized that public ‘apology for terrorist acts’ is punishable by one to ten years in prison under national law.