Forced disappearance of human rights defenders Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo in Burkina Faso

In a deeply troubling development, two prominent human rights defenders, Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo, have been forcibly disappeared in Burkina Faso amid escalating repression against civil society. Their sudden abductions have sent shockwaves through the human rights community, raising urgent concerns about their safety and well-being.

© Balai citoyen

Timeline of distressing events

The crisis unfolded rapidly, beginning with the abduction of Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, a sociologist and executive secretary of the Balai citoyen movement. On March 30, 2025, armed individuals claiming to be gendarmes forcibly took him from his home in the Karpala neighborhood of Ouagadougou. This shocking incident occurred shortly after his return from Cotonou, where he participated in an activist training program organized by the Foundation for Innovation in Democracy.

Meanwhile, Amadou Sawadogo, a regional coordinator for the Balai citoyen, has been missing since March 21, 2025. He was last seen after being summoned to the regional security service headquarters in Ouagadougou following critical social media posts. The authorities initially questioned him about revealing the whereabouts of two other activists who had gone into hiding. Despite multiple attempts by legal representatives to obtain information from public institutions, no credible updates have been provided regarding either defender’s whereabouts.

Context of systematic repression

The disappearances of these defenders must be understood within a broader pattern of state-led repression in Burkina Faso. The Balai citoyen movement, founded in 2013 with the vision of establishing a just and transparent society governed by the rule of law, has faced increasing hostility from authorities. Notably:

Me Guy Hervé Kam, a human rights lawyer and co-founder of Balai citoyen, was arrested in January 2024 at Ouagadougou International Airport upon his return from a professional trip, in clear violation of regional legal standards governing lawyer convocations.
Rasmané Zinaba and Bassirou Badjo, both members of the movement, were forcibly conscripted into the military in February 2024 despite a December 2023 court order suspending their conscription notices.
Several journalists including Guezouma Sanogo, Boukary Ouoba, and Luc Pagbeguem have also been forcibly disappeared since March 2025.

These actions are part of a disturbing trend documented in the February 2025 report titled “Civic Space and Human Rights Defenders in the Sahel: Regional Convergence of Repressive Practices”, which highlights how Burkina Faso’s military authorities have intensified crackdowns on dissent since the adoption of restrictive decrees in 2022 and 2023. These decrees empower authorities to conscript any physically able citizen over 18, a provision that has been selectively used to silence critics through forced disappearances and arbitrary conscription.

International condemnation and urgent appeals

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders — a partnership between the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) — has issued an urgent appeal demanding immediate action to locate and secure the safety of both defenders. The Observatory has called for:

Urgent measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo, as well as all human rights defenders in Burkina Faso;
Immediate disclosure of their whereabouts and unconditional release;
An end to the systematic practice of enforced disappearances and forced conscription of critics;
Full respect for fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and association, in line with international human rights standards.

The Observatory has also urged the international community to pressure the military-led authorities in Burkina Faso by writing to key officials, including:

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Transition in Burkina Faso; Twitter: @CapitaineIb22
Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso; Twitter: @J_E_Ouedraogo
Me Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, Minister of Justice and Human Rights; Email: [email protected]
Jean Marie Karamoko Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Email: [email protected]
Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations in Geneva; Email: [email protected]
Oumarou Ganou, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations in New York; Email: [email protected]
Representations of Burkina Faso in diplomatic missions worldwide.

Demands for justice and accountability

The forced disappearances of Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo underscore a dangerous erosion of civic freedoms in Burkina Faso. Their abductions appear to be direct retaliation for their legitimate human rights work and vocal criticism of the military-led regime. The international community must act swiftly to:

Demand the immediate and safe return of both defenders;
Hold the authorities accountable for their enforced disappearances;
Ensure the protection of all human rights defenders and journalists operating in Burkina Faso;
Uphold Burkina Faso’s obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, the Observatory stresses that silence is complicity. Immediate diplomatic intervention is essential to prevent further violations and restore respect for human dignity in Burkina Faso.

To report any actions taken, please reference the case code: BFA 002 / 0525 / OBS 022.

Contact the Observatory:
· Email: [email protected]
· FIDH Emergency Line: +33 1 43 55 25 18
· OMCT Emergency Line: +41 22 809 49 39