Burkina Faso authorities arrest 8 Dutch humanitarian workers
Burkina Faso’s military government has announced the arrest of eight members of a Dutch-based humanitarian organization accusing them of “spying and treason.” The detainees include three Europeans, a Malian and four Burkinabé staff, among them the NGO’s country director and deputy. The organization stated they had been detained for some time but the arrests were not previously reported.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana claimed the NGO had “collected and passed on sensitive security information that could harm national security and Burkina Faso’s interests” to foreign powers. The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) which provides safety information to aid workers, denied the allegations categorically.
Anthony Neal, a representative of INSO told the press that their Burkina Faso country director had been detained since July when the NGO was suspended and that the other seven arrests followed later. He emphasized that they are working for the safe and immediate release of all staff.
The NGO was suspended in late July for three months for “collecting sensitive data without authorization,” and has operated in Burkina Faso since 2019. Despite the ban, the security minister revealed that members continued to secretly gather information and hold meetings, a charge Neal denied stating their activities had ceased with the suspension.
INSO emphasized that the information collected was not confidential and was intended to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers. The organization also said the Burkinabé authorities were aware of their work and had cooperated with them.
Neal added he had attempted to engage with the government to resolve any misunderstandings. He highlighted the importance of safety information especially given the record number of aid workers killed worldwide this year.
Burkina Faso, led by military leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré who seized power in a 2020 coup, has experienced strained relations with Western nations. In response to a worsening Islamist insurgency, the government halted cooperation with France and sought military assistance from Russia. Human rights groups have accused the army of abuses against civilians and cracking down on political dissent amid ongoing conflict.
