Burkina Faso dissolves National Human Rights Commission to restore credibility

Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers, during its session on April 16, 2026, adopted a decree to repeal several texts related to the National Human Rights Commission CNDH. This includes texts from March 23 and July 12, 2023, concerning the appointment of commissioners, bureau members, and the institution's president. The CNDH's mandate is to promote, protect, and defend human rights, alert public authorities to violations, and propose solutions. It also serves as a platform for dialogue between the state and civil society on human rights issues. The Council of Ministers stated that the CNDH consistently failed to uphold its core principles of impartiality and neutrality, which damaged its credibility. To address this, the government decided to dissolve the current plenary assembly, deeming its failure evident, with the aim of restoring the Commission's credibility and professionalism. This decision terminates the mandates of the current commissioners, paving the way for the election of new members to rebuild the institution and strengthen its role in promoting and protecting human rights in Burkina Faso.