The interior minister said the proliferation of political parties was exacerbating divisions and weakening social cohesion.

Burkina Faso’s military-led government has issued a decree disbanding all political parties that were forced to suspend their activities following a coup four years ago.

The West African nation’s council of ministers passed the decree on Thursday as the government continues to crack down on dissent as it struggles to curb an insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS).

Burkina FasoInterior Minister Emil Zebo said the decision was part of a wider effort to “rebuild the country” after widespread abuses and dysfunction in the country’s multi-party system.

Zerbo said a government review found that the proliferation of political parties had exacerbated divisions and weakened social cohesion.

The decree dissolved all political parties and political organizations and all their assets will now be transferred to the state.

Before the coup, there were more than 100 registered political parties in the country, and after the 2020 election 15 were represented in parliament.

Burkina Faso leader Captain Ibrahim TraoreIt seized power in a coup in September 2022, eight months after a military coup ousted democratically elected President Roch Marc Kabore.

The country’s military leaders have severed ties with former colonial ruler France and have turned to Russia for security support.

In 2024, as part of a crackdown on dissent, the government ordered internet service provider Access to the BBC, Voice of America and Human Rights Watch websites and other digital platforms has been suspended.

As Burkina Faso turns away from the West, it joins forces with its neighbors Mali and Nigeralso ruled by a military junta, was forming alliance of countries in the sahel (AES) aims to strengthen economic and military cooperation.