from ISSOUF TRAORE in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso Bureau
OUAGADOUGOU, (CAJ News) – THE International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) has denounced the arrest and detention of some staff in Burkina Faso on allegations of conducting intelligence work.
The non-profit humanitarian organisation reports that on July 28, following a visit from Burkinabé Security Services to INSO’s office in the capital, Ouagadougou, its Country Director was taken from the office and detained by authorities.
Since then, a further four national and three international staff had been detained, including the Global Director of Programmes who had travelled to the country in the hope of meeting relevant authorities and resolving the situation.
INSO stated over the last three months, it had fully cooperated with the Burkinabé authorities’ ongoing investigation, and had sought on multiple occasions, to open direct dialogue with the Ministry of Security and offered to address any concerns they might have regarding INSO activities.
“The accusations made by the Ministry of Security are extremely concerning,” INSO stated.
“Associating our work to strengthen humanitarian safety with intelligence work is not only false but will only serve to place aid workers at greater risk.”
The organisation stated it would continue to work tirelessly to secure the safe and immediate release of its colleagues and was committed to addressing these accusations.
“In this, we count on the continued support of all our humanitarian partners.”
INSO monitoring and reporting on safety trends in more than twenty countries globally.
The West African country of Burkina Faso is under a military government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, following the coup in 2022.
– CAJ News