urgent appeal: Burkina Faso’s arbitrary detention of a prominent human rights lawyer

On november 10, 2025, the court of first instance in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, delivered a verdict against human rights lawyer and advocate Ini Benjamine Esther Doli. She was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of ‘contempt of the head of state’ and ‘demoralizing the armed forces’ for social media posts critical of the government. While acquitted of the more severe charge of ‘treason,’ Ini Benjamine Esther Doli remains detained at the women’s prison in Ouagadougou pending her appeal. She continues to receive legal counsel, family visits, and necessary medical care.

The observatory for the protection of human rights defenders, a joint initiative of the international federation for human rights (fidh) and the world organization against torture (omct), strongly condemns this ongoing arbitrary detention and legal persecution.

background and timeline of events

Ini Benjamine Esther Doli, a respected lawyer and former prosecutor, was forcibly taken from her home in Ouagadougou during the night of august 31 to september 1, 2025. Armed individuals claiming to be gendarmes carried out the abduction shortly after her return from an international trip. Her last social media post before the incident stated:

Brussels Airlines has just landed at Ouagadougou airport […]. Thomas Sankara led a revolution, but we have seen nothing like the horrors happening today! At least he established people’s tribunals to judge those accused of offenses without substituting justice with arbitrary actions and brutality against his people.

Following her abduction, Ini Benjamine Esther Doli was held incommunicado until her forced appearance in court. On september 4, 2025, the burkinabè bar association was notified of impending legal action against her. By september 6, the prosecutor had formally opened an investigation into her social media activities, citing alleged violations including ‘treason,’ ‘contempt of state,’ and ‘demoralization of the armed forces.’

context: systematic repression of rights defenders in Burkina Faso

The detention of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli is part of a broader pattern of repression against human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society in Burkina Faso. Recent months have seen numerous cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests:

• Amadou Sawadogo, a leader of the ‘balai citoyen’ movement, was abducted on march 21, 2025, and released on may 26, 2025.
• Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, the movement’s executive secretary, was kidnapped on march 30, 2025, and remains missing.
• Journalists Boukary Ouoba, Luc Pagbeguem, and Guezouma Sanogo were abducted on march 24, 2025; Ouoba and Pagbeguem were released on july 17, while Sanogo was freed on july 21.
• Atiana Serge Oulon, an investigative journalist and editor of the newspaper l’événement, has been missing since his abduction on june 24, 2024.

These incidents parallel the case of lawyer Guy Hervé Kam, a co-founder of the ‘balai citoyen’ movement, who was arrested in january 2024 upon returning from a professional trip. Despite temporary releases, he remains arbitrarily detained on charges of ‘conspiracy and criminal association.’

international human rights violations

The observatory highlights that Ini Benjamine Esther Doli’s detention violates fundamental rights protected under international law, including:

• article 19 of the international covenant on civil and political rights (iccpR): freedom of expression
• article 22 of the iccpR: freedom of association
• articles 9 and 10 of the african charter on human and peoples’ rights: rights to liberty and expression
• Burkina Faso’s constitution and transitional charter.

Her prosecution appears to be a direct retaliation for her legitimate human rights advocacy and criticism of government actions, including judicial dysfunctions and military abuses. Ini Benjamine Esther Doli has consistently highlighted systemic issues such as:

• Intimidation and abductions of citizens and rights defenders
• Violations of rights to security, personal liberty, and effective justice
• Judicial delays and political interference in the judiciary

In her posts, she condemned the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources to suppress dissent, stating:

It is cowardly beyond measure to use weapons purchased with public funds to intimidate, abduct, and silence people while obstructing justice. What unprecedented terror!

urgent international appeal

The observatory urgently calls on the international community to pressure Burkina Faso’s military authorities to:

• Ensure the physical and psychological safety of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and all human rights defenders in the country
• Immediately and unconditionally release Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and all arbitrarily detained defenders
• Launch an independent investigation into the abduction and enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, including Ini Benjamine Esther Doli
Uphold fundamental freedoms: Guarantee the right to freedom of expression and association in line with international human rights standards

Key contacts to address:

• capitaine ibrahim traore, president of the patriotique movement for safeguarding and restoration ii (mpsr ii)
  x (twitter): @capitaineib22
• jean-emmanuel ouédraogo, prime minister of Burkina Faso
  x (twitter): @j_e_ouedraogo
• edasso rodrigue bayala, minister of justice, human rights, and relations with institutions
  email: [email protected]
• jean marie karamoko traore, minister of foreign affairs, regional cooperation, and burkinabè abroad
  email: [email protected]; x (twitter): @jeanmarietraore
• commission nationale des droits humains du Burkina Faso
  email: [email protected]; x (twitter): @burkinaCndhX
• sabine bakyono kanzie, permanent representative of Burkina Faso to the united nations office in geneva
  emails: [email protected] / [email protected]
• oumarou ganou, permanent representative of Burkina Faso to the united nations in new york
  email: [email protected]
• Burkina Faso’s permanent mission to the african union in addis ababa
  emails: [email protected] / [email protected]

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to contact Burkina Faso’s diplomatic missions in their respective countries to amplify this appeal.

take action now

Your intervention can make a difference. Write to the listed authorities demanding the immediate release of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and the protection of human rights defenders in Burkina Faso. Share this appeal widely to raise awareness and pressure for justice.

For updates or to report actions taken, contact the observatory using the reference code for this urgent appeal.

The observatory for the protection of human rights defenders, a partnership between fidh and omct, works to protect human rights defenders and provide concrete support to victims of violations. Both organizations are members of protectdefenders.eu, the eu’s mechanism for human rights defenders implemented by international civil society.

contact the observatory:
email: [email protected]
phone (fidh): +33 1 43 55 25 18
phone (omct): +41 22 809 49 39