Burkina Faso Military Junta Arrests Prominent Cleric, Sparking Street Protests

Central News Agency (Abidjan) May 26. A prominent Sunni cleric in the West African nation of Burkina Faso was arrested by the military junta today after criticizing legislation related to religious management. Police used tear gas against crowds demanding his release. According to AFP, Burkina Faso has been under military rule for nearly four years, with authorities strictly suppressing dissent and publicly declaring that the country is not a democracy. The Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina (FAIB) issued a statement confirming that Sunni cleric Mohamad Ishaq Kindo was arrested in the capital, Ouagadougou, though authorities provided no reason. The organization is in contact with authorities, hoping to obtain "clear information" on his whereabouts and achieve a "positive outcome." A family member who witnessed the arrest on the eve of Eid al-Adha said the operation was carried out by "security personnel, including masked police and soldiers." The family member noted, "The arrest was quite violent because believers on the scene tried to resist, leading to a tense atmosphere." Another believer revealed that some were injured in the clashes. Two days earlier, a recording of Kindo's sermon circulated online, in which he criticized a draft regulation on religious freedom passed in March and called on authorities to "think deeply about the impact of their actions." After his arrest, hundreds protested in the streets of Ouagadougou, but police dispersed them with tear gas. The junta emphasized that actions against dissent are necessary measures to combat jihadist organizations across the country.