Burkina Faso Human Rights Advocate Kidnapped Amid Fears of Crackdown on Opposition

Human rights defender Daouda Diallo has been abducted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The recipient of the Martin Ennals international human rights award was targeted after visiting the passport department. His captors, dressed in civilian clothing, took him to an unknown location, raising concerns for his health and safety. It is believed that Diallo’s abduction is related to the government’s use of a controversial law to target dissidents, a move that has been widely denounced by human rights groups. Amnesty International has called for Diallo’s immediate and unconditional release, denouncing the use of conscription to intimidate independent voices. The government’s “general mobilization” decree, meant to combat jihadi violence, is being used to silence and intimidate critics of the regime. This has led to a climate of fear among journalists, civil society activists, and opposition party members. Diallo, who has faced harassment and threats in the past, is known for his work documenting human rights abuses and protecting people’s rights in Burkina Faso. The international community is calling for his safe return and an end to the targeting of activists and dissenting voices in Burkina Faso.

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