Burkina Faso extends state of emergency in eight regions by six months

A Burkinabe soldier stands guard outside a building in Ouagadougou. (Illustrative image) REUTERS/Joe Penney

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The state of emergency, in force since March in eight of Burkina Faso's thirteen regions, has been extended for six months by the transitional legislative assembly, according to a statement issued Saturday. The objective for this country, which was the scene of two military coups in 2022 and now led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is to face the recurring deadly assaults of jihadists that it has faced for eight years.

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The bill was passed unanimously by Burkina Faso's transitional parliament, according to Agence France Presse.

The state will take effect from April 29 at midnight until October 29 at 23:59 p.m. Officially, this extension aims "to strengthen and consolidate the fight against insecurity and to give more opportunities to the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) to continue their actions," Justice Minister Bibata Nebié Ouedraogo told the transitional parliament.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been caught in a spiral of jihadist violence that has continued to increase. The government has therefore decided to extend the state of emergency since last March to 22 provinces spread over 8 regions, or nearly half of Burkinabe territory.

In particular, it grants the administrative authorities or the SDF the right to take a series of measures, including bans on movement and the dissolution of groups and associations, media control and requisitioning of property and persons.

A human rights defender told RFI "his concern" about "exceptional measures that riskturning into a green light that will allow the authorities to do everything," he said.

► READ ALSO: Burkina Faso: the state of emergency comes into force in eight regions

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  • Burkina Faso
  • Terrorism