The arrest of influential Sunni preacher Mohamed Ishaq Kindo on the eve of Tabaski has sent shockwaves through Burkina Faso, with tensions rising as authorities remain tight-lipped about the circumstances. Eyewitnesses report heavily armed police and military personnel detaining the imam around midday on May 26, sparking clashes as followers attempted to intervene.

Public anger has been simmering for months over a controversial religious freedoms bill that seeks to reinforce state secularism, regulate worship spaces in public services, and curb extremist influences. Muslim advocacy groups have condemned the legislation, demanding its withdrawal entirely.

Adding fuel to the fire, an audio message attributed to Imam Kindo circulated online, urging authorities to “reconsider the consequences of their actions before proceeding further.” Later that same day, security forces dispersed a solidarity protest in Ouagadougou using tear gas.

This incident is not an isolated case. In late March, another prominent cleric, Imam Mahmoud Barro, vanished shortly after publicly criticizing the same bill. Meanwhile, the Union générale des étudiants du Burkina (Ugeb) was suspended for three months—renewable—for allegedly “glorifying terrorism” after publishing a statement denouncing the government’s failure to address rising insecurity and broken promises.

Human rights groups push back against crackdowns

Human Rights Watch has sharply criticized the Ugeb suspension, describing the student union—founded in 1960—as “a vital voice in the struggle for transparency and social justice.” A prosecutor in Ouagadougou confirmed an investigation targeting the anonymous author(s) of the controversial post, raising concerns among activists that judicial independence is being subordinated to military rule.

HRW has called for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Ugeb and an end to what it calls “the suppression of independent voices and fundamental freedoms.” The organization argues that silencing students will not resolve Burkina Faso’s deepening security and governance crises, particularly as Islamist insurgencies intensify across the country.

Just weeks earlier, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) had urged authorities to “uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Burkinabè.” Yet the opposite appears to be unfolding. Fear now permeates public life, making it increasingly difficult for journalists to secure candid interviews as self-censorship spreads.

The message from the streets, however, persists—whispered in private conversations and echoed across social media, where dissent refuses to be extinguished.