The director of the national office of the International NGO Safety Organization (INSO) in Burkina Faso, Jean Christophe Emile Pégon, was among eight humanitarian workers detained in that country and recently released, along with deputy director Guisse Aminata (French-Senegalese nationality), program director Muzik Thomas (Czech nationality), a Malian citizen and four Burkinabe nationals. According to Europa Press, based on an INSO statement, these people were deprived of their freedom after the military junta led by Ibrahim Traoré accused them of involvement in espionage activities.
According to Europa Press, the Dutch NGO INSO confirmed the release of its members and took the opportunity to thank them for the support that made their release possible. “INSO celebrates the release of our colleagues and appreciates the support that made this possible,” he said in the statement released by media. The organization stressed that its core mission as a humanitarian body is to facilitate the safe work of other NGOs to support affected populations in Burkina Faso and other parts of the world.
The Burkinabe government had made direct allegations against INSO through Security Minister Mahamadu Sana, claiming that the organization was a “spy network.” In words recorded by Europa Press, Sana stated: “In violation of current legislation in our country, this NGO is dedicated to the systematic collection of all types of information related to the country’s political, administrative and security activities.” As a consequence of these allegations, the authorities decided at the end of June to suspend INSO’s activities in the national territory, justifying the measure based on the seriousness of the alleged incidents.
However, INSO categorically rejected the official claims and expressed its full willingness to cooperate with local authorities on any concerns regarding its operations. In words compiled by Europa Press from an earlier statement by the organization in October, the NGO said: “The Burkinabe authorities have been and are fully aware of our work and mandate. We have been operating in Burkina Faso since 2019 after receiving requests to support NGOs there, and we are registered with the relevant ministries in accordance with local laws.”
INSO, as detailed by Europa Press, works on security advisory tasks for NGOs carrying out humanitarian work in conflict contexts such as that in Burkina Faso, trying to make their work less risky and more effective for the civilian population. The NGO stressed that its actions are within the framework of humanitarian principles and that it has no other function than to provide effective protection and assistance wherever it is needed.
Another relevant organization, Human Rights Watch (HRW), commented on the incident, calling the workers’ detention “unjust” and warning, quoted by Europa Press, that these events “send the alarming message” that humanitarian organizations are “acting at the whim of a board that appears to have little concern for people in need.” HRW placed these measures in the context of the humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso and mentioned counterinsurgency operations by security forces with serious consequences for the civilian population.
Human Rights Watch, quoted in Europa Press, also denounced that the Burkinabe armed forces have carried out operations against armed groups characterized by recurring ill-treatment, mass killings – which could constitute crimes against humanity – as well as repression, enforced disappearances and what are considered illegal recruitments. According to the organization, these procedures increase the vulnerability of civil society and complicate the work of those seeking to mitigate the effects of violence and conflict.
INSO’s role in Burkina Faso, as described by Europa Press, began in 2019 after receiving requests to support NGOs already based in the country, establish formal links with national ministries and meet legal registration requirements. Since then, the organization has focused its tasks on protecting and supporting humanitarian workers and aims to ensure that international aid reaches the affected population despite political instability and uncertainty.
Following the recent release of its members, the NGO reiterated its commitment to humanitarian principles and transparent cooperation with authorities, according to the statement collected by Europa Press. The company reiterated its intention to continue supporting the work of other non-governmental organizations in the region and reiterated that it strictly respects the legal framework where it carries out its activities.
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