• Burkina Faso dissolves all political parties, citing division and weakened social cohesion.
• The decision affects more than 100 political parties suspended since the 2022 coup.
• Government assets from dissolved parties will be transferred to the state.
• The move is part of ongoing efforts to centralize power and limit dissent.
• Captain Ibrahim Traoré's junta continues to strengthen ties with Russia while distancing from Western influences.

Burkina Faso's military government has officially dissolved all political parties, which had not been operational since the military takeover in September 2022. This decree reflects an effort by the ruling junta to consolidate power amid rising internal tensions and ongoing insurgencies linked to extremist groups. Interior Minister Emile Zerbo stated that the proliferation of political parties has "fuelled divisions among citizens and weakened the social fabric," highlighting claims of dysfunction within the country's multiparty system, according to Al Jazeera.

The cabinet's decision to ban political parties comes as part of a broader strategy to "rebuild the state" and ensure national unity. Previously, although parties were barred from public gatherings, they were allowed to operate internally. Now, with this new decree, their operational status has been fully terminated, and the assets of dissolved parties will be transferred to the state. This action will eliminate over 100 political parties, including 15 that had parliamentary representation, according to reports from Africanews and BBC.

The junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, took power after ousting then-leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Traoré has been under scrutiny for stifling dissent and tightening control over political processes in the country. The recent ban aligns with ongoing allegations of authoritarian governance that have characterized his regime and the complex political landscape of Burkina Faso, as cited by Africanews and BBC.