OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO — The military government of Burkina Faso has announced the arrest of eight individuals associated with a Dutch-based humanitarian organization, formally accusing them of “spying and treason.”
Those detained include three Europeans, one Malian national, and four Burkinabé citizens, among them the NGO’s country director and deputy. The organization confirmed that the detentions occurred some time ago but were not publicly reported until now.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana stated the NGO had “collected and passed on sensitive security information that could be detrimental to national security and the interests of Burkina Faso, to foreign powers.”
The organization, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), which provides critical safety information to aid workers, has “categorically” denied the allegations.
Anthony Neal, a representative of INSO, told this publication that their Burkina Faso country director has been detained since July, coinciding with the initial suspension of the organization.
The seven other staff members were arrested later. Neal stated, “We continue to work towards their safe and immediate release.”
The NGO was initially suspended on July 31 for three months by Burkinabé authorities for “collecting sensitive data without authorisation.” The organization has been operational in the country since 2019.
On Tuesday, the Security Minister alleged that, despite the ban, members of INSO had continued to secretly collect information and hold meetings. Mr. Neal refuted this claim, stating that the organization’s information-collection activities had ceased on July 31.
He explained that staff remained in Burkina Faso solely to manage the ongoing detention issues and meet contractual commitments.
INSO issued a statement emphasizing that the information it collects is not confidential and is exclusively intended for the safety and security of humanitarian workers.
The organization stressed that Burkinabé authorities were “fully aware” of their mandate and work and that INSO had been consistently co-operating with the government.
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Mr. Neal added that he had attempted to engage with the government to resolve any misunderstandings or concerns, underscoring the vital nature of safety information, especially as a “record” number of aid workers have been killed globally this year.
The arrests occur against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tension. Burkina Faso’s military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, seized power in a coup three years ago and has maintained a strained relationship with Western nations, including former colonial power France.
In its effort to tackle a worsening Islamist insurgency, the junta has opted to seek military assistance from Russia.
Human rights groups have since accused the army of committing abuses against civilians while fighting militants, alongside a crackdown on political dissent and freedom of expression.
