Burkina Faso’s military government has arrested eight members of a Dutch-based humanitarian organization, alleging that they engaged in “spying and treason.” Among those detained are three Europeans, one Malian, and four Burkinabé, including the NGO’s country director and deputy. The organization indicated that the arrests occurred some time ago, although this had not been publicly reported before.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana claimed that the NGO had gathered and transmitted sensitive security information that may harm national interests to foreign entities. The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), which specializes in providing security information to aid workers, has categorically denied these accusations.
Anthony Neal, a representative of INSO, reported that the country director had been detained since July when the organization was suspended. The remaining seven individuals were taken into custody later. Neal emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts to secure their safe release.
The NGO faced a three-month suspension on July 31 for purportedly collecting sensitive data without authorization. It has been operational in Burkina Faso since 2019. Despite the suspension, Minister Sana stated that members of the organization secretly continued their information-gathering and held meetings. Neal refuted this claim, asserting that collection activities had halted after the suspension, while staff remained to address the detentions and fulfill contractual obligations.
INSO maintained that its data collection was not confidential and aimed to enhance the safety of humanitarian workers. The organization indicated that Burkinabé authorities were fully informed of their operations and had cooperated with them. Neal noted efforts to engage the government to clarify any misunderstandings, highlighting the critical need for safety information amidst a notable rise in violence against aid workers globally.
Burkina Faso’s military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore following a coup three years ago, has experienced strained relations with Western nations, primarily due to its shift away from cooperation with France toward seeking military assistance from Russia in response to escalating Islamist insurgency challenges.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkjyzkn1n3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss