Activists Arrested For Inciting Armed Crowd

Six people, including members of civil society in Burkina Faso, have been arrested and placed in police custody. They are being charged with “criminal association,” “spreading false information,” and “inciting an armed or unarmed crowd,” according to Prosecutor Harouna Yoda on Sunday.

In early May, the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) started an investigation after audio messages appeared on social media. These messages called for the burning of the palace of Mogho Naaba, the traditional leader of the Mossi people, who are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso.

“So far, the investigation has led to the arrest and detention of six people, most of whom are from civil society organizations,” said Prosecutor Yoda in a press release.

He made it clear that these individuals were not arrested for their opinions but because there is strong evidence suggesting they committed serious offenses.

On May 2, an audio message circulated, portraying Mogho Naaba as being against the current regime, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has been in power since a coup in September 2022.

The following day, two more audio messages were shared, this time calling for an attack on the monarch’s palace and encouraging opposition.

According to the prosecutor, all of these audio messages were sent by the same group of people, with the goal of sparking conflict between supporters and opponents of Mogho Naaba, which could have led to serious violence.

In addition, the prosecutor announced the arrest of Mohamed Sinon, the leader of a pro-regime group. He was arrested for “defamation” and “putting the lives of others at risk.” He had claimed that the national gendarmerie was not fully committed to fighting jihadists. Sinon had previously been given a two-year suspended sentence for threatening a well-known journalist with death.

Burkina Faso, which saw two military coups in 2022, has been suffering from jihadist violence since 2015. The violence, which began in Mali and Niger, has spread into Burkina Faso. Over 50 civilians were killed in various parts of the country this week alone.

Since 2015, the violence has claimed more than 10,000 lives, including both civilians and soldiers, according to non-governmental organizations. The crisis has also forced about two million people to flee their homes within the country.