An international NGO working in Burkina Faso says eight of its staff, detained for months on accusations of spying, have been released by the country’s military authorities.
The Netherlands-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) announced on Friday that the workers 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 eight staff members—detained in July but only publicly acknowledged by the ruling military junta in early October—included a French national, a French-Senegalese woman, a Czech citizen, a Malian and four Burkinabe nationals.
Burkina Faso’s military government, which seized power in a coup in September 2022, revoked the authorisation of 21 NGOs in July, including INSO. Authorities accused the organisation of gathering sensitive security information for foreign powers and continuing to operate secretly after being banned.
INSO, which produces security analysis for humanitarian agencies, strongly denied the claims. “As a humanitarian organisation, we remain committed to supporting NGOs delivering aid safely to those in need,” it said. The group added that it has worked in Burkina Faso since 2019 at the request of aid agencies seeking improved safety for humanitarian staff. “We strive to uphold humanitarian principles everywhere we work,” the statement continued.
Rights groups have accused Burkina Faso’s authorities of regularly suppressing dissent within civil society and the media, often framing such restrictions as necessary for combating jihadist violence that has plagued the country for nearly a decade. Armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to launch deadly attacks across large areas of the country.
At the end of 2024, neighbouring Niger—also governed by a military junta—revoked INSO’s authorisation to operate on its territory as well.
