GENEVA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Nations rights chief calledThursday on the Burkina Faso government to halt all repression of civic spaceand to overturn its plan to prohibit all political parties. The junta running the west African nation said last week it planned todissolve all political parties, whose activities have been suspended sincethe military rulers seized power in 2022. "Instead of banning political parties and jailing people for expressing theiropinions, the authorities in Burkina Faso need to open up space for civilsociety, including humanitarian actors," Volker Turk said in a statement. The rights office warned that the combined effect of the suspensions anddecisions "sharply constricted civil society's activity in the country". "Among the victims are journalists, members of the judiciary, leaders andmembers of political parties and civil society organisations," it said.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 05, 2026 16:47 UTC