The Burkina Faso Government has detained eight members of a Dutch-based humanitarian organisation, citing alleged security breaches.
The detained include three Europeans, a Malian, and four Burkinabé staff members. Among them are the NGO’s country director and deputy.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the organisation had “collected and passed on sensitive security information that could be detrimental to national security and the interests of Burkina Faso, to foreign powers.”
The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), which provides safety information to aid workers, has “categorically” denied the allegations.
Anthony Neal, a representative of the said that its Burkina Faso country director had been detained since July when the organisation was suspended. The seven others were arrested later.
The NGO was suspended on 31 July for three months by the authorities for “collecting sensitive data without authorisation.” It has been working in the country since 2019.
Burkina Faso’s military government, led by Capt Ibrahim Traore, seized power in a coup three years ago.