France, Aug. 1 -- "We have witnessed an escalating pattern of repression. But what pushed us to include the country this year is the sharp scale and intensity of state action against civil society," said Civicus's Nelson Baiye Mbu.

The NGOs cites increasingly restrictive laws, notably a law on freedom of association enacted in July 2025, for the addition of Burkina Faso to its 2026 watchlist.

This legislation introduced strict compliance requirements and regulations, which "the military authorities have instrumentalised to suspend civil society organisations and associations," said Baiye Mbu.

The military authorities dissolved 118 civil society organisations on 15 April, citing non-compliance with the new freedom of association law. A ...