Burkina Faso releases eight NGO members arrested for ‘spying’
An international NGO operating in Burkina Faso says eight of its staff members, arrested by the country’s military authorities on allegations of espionage, have been released after several months in detention.
The Netherlands-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) announced in a statement on Friday that the personnel were freed at the end of October. “INSO welcomes the safe release of our colleagues and appreciates the support that made this possible,” the organisation said.
The workers were detained in July, though the arrests were only disclosed publicly by Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta in early October. The eight detainees included a French national, a French-Senegalese woman, a Czech citizen, a Malian, and four Burkinabe nationals.
Burkina Faso’s military rulers, who came to power in a coup in September 2022, revoked the licences of 21 NGOs in July—including INSO—accusing the organisation of collecting and sharing sensitive security information with foreign powers and continuing to operate covertly despite the ban.
INSO, which provides security analysis for other humanitarian agencies, has firmly rejected the allegations. “As a humanitarian organisation, we remain committed to supporting humanitarian organisations delivering aid safely to all those in need,” it said on Friday. The group noted it has worked in Burkina Faso since 2019 “following requests to support NGOs there” to improve safety for humanitarian staff and operations. “We strive to uphold the humanitarian principles everywhere we work,” the statement added.
Rights groups say Burkina Faso’s authorities frequently clamp down on dissent, including within civil society and the media, while justifying restrictions as part of efforts to combat jihadist violence that has gripped the country for around a decade. Armed groups that have sworn allegiance to al Qaeda or the Islamic State group continue to stage deadly attacks across large parts of the country.
At the end of 2024, Niger, a neighbouring state also ruled by a military junta, withdrew INSO’s authorisation to operate on its territory as well.
