On May 25 and 26, 2026, the Burkina Faso government opened a judicial investigation into, and suspended, the General Union of Students of Burkina (UGEB) over its criticism of national security failures.

UGEB, Burkina Faso’s oldest student organization, released a statement on May 25 marking the 36th anniversary of presidential security killing Dabo Boukary, a seventh-year medical student and activist at the University of Ouagadougou. In the statement, the union assessed the country’s deteriorating security landscape, criticizing the government’s“inability to restore security” despite heavy investments in military equipment. UGEB has long spoken out about democratic mobilization, civic activism, and resistance to authoritarian rule.

Later that day, Prosecutor Lafama Prosper Thiombiano of the Ouagadougou High Court opened a judicial investigation targeting the authors of the UGEB statement. The prosecutor cited Articles 312-11 and 361-19 of the Penal Code, which criminalize “demoralisation of the defence and security forces” and “public glorification of terrorism.” These charges carry prison sentences of one to ten years and fines of up to 10 million CFA francs (approximately US $17,600).

That night, unidentified armed individuals broke into the UGEB headquarters and abducted ten students, including the UGEB president (see report).

The following day, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility issued an order suspending UGEB. The decree, signed by Minister of State Emile Zerbo, bars the organization from conducting any activities nationwide for three months, renewable at the authorities’ discretion.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about formal state pressure on student groups, including judicial investigations, in retaliation for the exercise of freedom of expression. While legislative and executive officials have a right to express their views about higher education communities and policies, they have a responsibility to refrain from using their offices to threaten, impose extra-legal sanctions, or otherwise dictate academic or operational decision-making. Formal state threats and pressures undermine university autonomy, academic freedom, and the university’s ability to contribute to democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/05/27/burkina-fasos-largest-student-union-suspended-for-criticizing-junta
https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/28/burkina-faso-junta-suspends-biggest-student-union-and-arrests-leader/
https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/burkina-fasos-largest-student-union-suspended-after-challenging-captain-traores/3k9hpyx
https://mfwa.org/country-highlights/burkina-faso-junta-suspends-largest-student-union-over-criticism-of-security-failures/