In a troubling turn of events, Idrissa Barry, a prominent political activist and journalist in Burkina Faso, was arrested in Ouagadougou by individuals identifying as gendarmes. His arrest has generated deep concerns regarding his safety, as he vanished without a trace amid reports of a licence-free vehicle taking him away. Barry, 48, serves as the national secretary for the opposition party, Servir et Non se Servir (SENS), which promptly condemned the act, demanding his immediate release.
Colleagues of Barry embarked on frantic searches across local police and gendarmerie stations but found no sign of him. Prosecutors in Ouagadougou confirmed they had not sanctioned his arrest, intensifying the mystery surrounding his forced disappearance. Just days prior, SENS had denounced violent assaults on civilians by government forces and the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDPs) near Solenzo, which has added fuel to the tension.
Video footage reviewed by Human Rights Watch suggests that VDP militias are linked to the brutal massacre of numerous civilians, including children, which the government might view as retaliation for perceived support of Islamist groups. Since the military coup in October 2022, the junta has silenced dissent and threatened various societal members with forced recruitment into counterinsurgency operations, raising fears that Barry may face similar coercion.
The act of arresting an individual while withholding information on their location is classified as enforced disappearance—a severe breach of international human rights laws. Such violations entail severe consequences, including arbitrary detention and potential torture. Urgent actions are needed by the authorities to reveal Barry’s location and secure his release, as the situation poses grave risks to his human rights.
Idrissa Barry, a prominent activist in Burkina Faso, was arrested by unknown gendarmes, prompting fears of forced disappearance. Despite searches by his colleagues, his whereabouts remain unknown. Barry’s arrest follows his party’s condemnation of recent violent government actions against civilians. The situation raises serious human rights concerns related to enforced disappearances and the military’s handling of dissent.
The forced disappearance of Idrissa Barry highlights serious human rights violations under the military junta in Burkina Faso. Arresting opposition figures without accountability undermines the rule of law and raises deep concerns for their safety. Immediate measures are necessary to ensure Barry’s release and to uphold human rights standards in the country, as enforced disappearances have far-reaching implications for societal trust and stability.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
