An international NGO operating in Burkina Faso has confirmed that eight of its staff members, previously detained by the country’s military authorities on allegations of espionage, have been released after several months in custody.
The Netherlands-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) announced in a statement on Friday that the detained personnel were freed at the end of October. “INSO welcomes the safe release of our colleagues and appreciates the support that made this possible,” the organisation said.
The workers were arrested in July, though the military junta did not disclose the detentions until early October. Those held included a French citizen, a woman with dual French-Senegalese nationality, a Czech national, a Malian, and four citizens of Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso’s military leadership — which seized power in a September 2022 coup — had earlier revoked the operating licences of 21 NGOs, including INSO. Authorities accused INSO of gathering and transmitting sensitive security information to foreign governments and of continuing to operate covertly despite being banned.
INSO, which provides security assessments for humanitarian agencies, has firmly denied the accusations. “As a humanitarian organisation, we remain committed to supporting aid workers to operate safely and deliver assistance to all those in need,” the group stated. It added that it has been active in Burkina Faso since 2019 at the request of NGOs seeking improved security support. “We strive to uphold humanitarian principles wherever we work,” the statement noted.
Human-rights organisations have frequently accused Burkina Faso’s authorities of suppressing civil society groups and the media, often citing national security concerns tied to the country’s decade-long battle with jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
In late 2024, neighbouring Niger — also under military rule — similarly withdrew INSO’s authorisation to operate within its borders.
