Burkina Faso junta detains NGO workers for 'spying'
Burkina Faso’s military government has arrested eight staff members of the Dutch-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), accusing them of spying and treason. Those detained include three Europeans, a Malian, and four Burkinabé, among them the NGO’s country director and deputy.
Authorities claim the group collected and shared sensitive security data with foreign powers, posing a threat to national security. INSO denies the allegations, stating its information only supports humanitarian worker safety and was shared transparently with local authorities.
INSO’s Burkina Faso office was suspended on 31 July for allegedly gathering data without permission, but the government now accuses it of continuing secret activities afterward. INSO says it ceased operations after the suspension and has sought dialogue to secure the release of its staff.
The arrests come amid rising tensions between Burkina Faso’s junta-led government and Western nations. Since Capt. Ibrahim Traoré seized power in 2022, the country has cut ties with France, turned to Russia for support, and faced widespread accusations of human rights abuses and repression while battling Islamist insurgents.
Burkina Faso’s military government has arrested eight staff members of the Dutch-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), accusing them of spying and treason. Those detained include three Europeans, a Malian, and four Burkinabé, among them the NGO’s country director and deputy.
Authorities claim the group collected and shared sensitive security data with foreign powers, posing a threat to national security. INSO denies the allegations, stating its information only supports humanitarian worker safety and was shared transparently with local authorities.
INSO’s Burkina Faso office was suspended on 31 July for allegedly gathering data without permission, but the government now accuses it of continuing secret activities afterward. INSO says it ceased operations after the suspension and has sought dialogue to secure the release of its staff.
The arrests come amid rising tensions between Burkina Faso’s junta-led government and Western nations. Since Capt. Ibrahim Traoré seized power in 2022, the country has cut ties with France, turned to Russia for support, and faced widespread accusations of human rights abuses and repression while battling Islamist insurgents.
Burkina Faso junta detains NGO workers for 'spying'
Burkina Faso’s military government has arrested eight staff members of the Dutch-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), accusing them of spying and treason. Those detained include three Europeans, a Malian, and four Burkinabé, among them the NGO’s country director and deputy.
Authorities claim the group collected and shared sensitive security data with foreign powers, posing a threat to national security. INSO denies the allegations, stating its information only supports humanitarian worker safety and was shared transparently with local authorities.
INSO’s Burkina Faso office was suspended on 31 July for allegedly gathering data without permission, but the government now accuses it of continuing secret activities afterward. INSO says it ceased operations after the suspension and has sought dialogue to secure the release of its staff.
The arrests come amid rising tensions between Burkina Faso’s junta-led government and Western nations. Since Capt. Ibrahim Traoré seized power in 2022, the country has cut ties with France, turned to Russia for support, and faced widespread accusations of human rights abuses and repression while battling Islamist insurgents.
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