The military government of Burkina Faso has arrested several workers from a European charity, accusing them of spying and collecting secret information.
Officials said eight people from the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) were arrested in the capital, Ouagadougou. The group includes three Europeans a French man, a French-Senegalese woman, and a Czech man as well as one Malian and four Burkinabè citizens. Among them are INSO’s country director and deputy director.
The government claims the group gathered and shared “sensitive security information” with foreign countries. Authorities called their actions “spying and treason.”
INSO had already been suspended in July 2025 for three months after officials said the group was collecting data without permission. The government now says that some staff continued working secretly despite the ban.
INSO is based in the Netherlands and helps humanitarian organisations understand security risks in dangerous areas. The group has not yet commented on the arrests.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since 2022, and the government has recently taken a tougher stance against Western countries and international NGOs. Many organisations say it has become harder to work in the country due to new restrictions and security concerns.
The latest arrests are likely to make aid work even more difficult in Burkina Faso, which is already facing serious problems with violence and humanitarian needs.
