In a concerning development in Burkina Faso, human rights lawyer Ini Benjamine Esther Doli has been sentenced and remains arbitrarily detained. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a partnership between FIDH and OMCT) has issued an urgent appeal highlighting the continued repression of civil society and the shrinking space for free expression in the country.
who is ini benjamine esther doli?
Me Ini Benjamine Esther Doli is a distinguished Burkinabe lawyer and human rights defender with a notable career in public service. She previously served as a substitute prosecutor at the Bobo-Dioulasso Court of First Instance and as a government commissioner at the Ouagadougou Administrative Court, appointed in May 2019. Since July 2024, she has been a registered member of the Burkina Faso Bar Association.
background of the case
On August 31–September 1, 2025, Ini Benjamine Esther Doli was abducted from her home in Ouagadougou by armed individuals claiming to be gendarmes. This occurred shortly after her return from an international trip, during which she had publicly criticized the deteriorating state of justice and human rights in Burkina Faso. Her last Facebook post before the abduction reflected on the legacy of Thomas Sankara and the failures of the current judicial system, stating:
“Feu Thomas Sankara made his revolution, but we saw nothing of the horrors happening today! At least he created people’s courts to try those accused of offenses—he didn’t bypass justice to do as he pleased and brutalize his people.”
Following her abduction, she was charged with contempt of the head of state (Article 352-2 of the Penal Code), attempting to demoralize the armed forces (Article 312-11), and treason (Article 311-2).
legal proceedings and current status
On November 10, 2025, the Ouagadougou Court of First Instance convicted Me Doli of contempt of the head of state and attempting to demoralize the armed forces, sentencing her to one year in prison and a fine of 1,000,000 F.CFA (~€1,525). She has appealed the decision. The charge of treason was dropped due to insufficient evidence. As of this report, she remains detained in the women’s section of the Ouagadougou Civil Prison, where she has access to legal counsel, family visits, and necessary medical care.
wider context: repression of civil society in Burkina Faso
The case of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli is not isolated. Burkina Faso has seen a surge in arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and judicial harassment targeting human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society leaders. Notable cases include:
- Amadou Sawadogo, a Balai Citoyen activist, who was abducted on March 21, 2025, and released on May 26, 2025.
- Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, Secretary-General of Balai Citoyen, abducted on March 30, 2025, and still missing.
- Journalists Boukary Ouoba, Luc Pagbeguem, and Guezouma Sanogo, abducted on March 24, 2025; Ouoba and Pagbeguem were released on July 17, 2025, and Sanogo on July 21, 2025.
- Atiana Serge Oulon, an investigative journalist and director of the newspaper L’Événement, abducted on June 24, 2024, and still missing.
- Me Guy Hervé Kam, a lawyer and co-founder of Balai Citoyen, arrested in January 2024 and still arbitrarily detained on charges of conspiracy and criminal association.
These incidents underscore a systematic effort to silence dissent and obstruct the work of those defending human rights and press freedom in Burkina Faso.
international standards and calls for action
The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and judicial persecution of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli, viewing it as a blatant violation of her right to freedom of expression and her legitimate human rights work. It calls on the military authorities in Burkina Faso to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Me Doli and all other arbitrarily detained human rights defenders and journalists.
- Ensure the physical and psychological safety of all detainees and human rights defenders in the country.
- Initiate a transparent investigation into the circumstances of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli’s abduction and the enforced disappearances of other activists.
- Uphold international human rights standards, including Articles 19 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Burkina Faso has ratified.
how you can help
Urgent appeals can be sent to the following authorities in Burkina Faso:
- Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration II (MPSR II) – @CapitaineIb22
- Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso – @J_E_Ouedraogo
- Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, Minister of Justice and Human Rights – Email: [email protected]
- Jean Marie Karamoko Traore, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Email: [email protected]; @JeanMarieTraore
- National Human Rights Commission of Burkina Faso – Email: [email protected]; @BurkinaCndhX
- Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the UN in Geneva – Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
- Oumarou Ganou, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the UN in New York – Email: [email protected]
- Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the African Union – Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
You are also encouraged to contact the Burkina Faso diplomatic missions in your respective countries. Please report any actions taken to the Observatory using the reference code for this urgent appeal.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership between FIDH and OMCT, remains committed to supporting those facing repression for their legitimate human rights work. Through the ProtectDefenders.eu mechanism, it provides vital assistance to defenders at risk across the globe.
