Idrissa Barry, a prominent member of the political movement Servir et Non Se Servir (SENS), was kidnapped near Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou on Tuesday, his organisation confirmed.
SENS condemned the abduction, which occurred while Barry was attending a meeting in Saaba’s town hall.
The organisation decried the “brutal kidnapping,” calling it an enforced disappearance and a violation of human rights. SENS stressed that such actions threatened all critical voices in the country.
This incident follows recent condemnations from SENS regarding alleged massacres of Fulani civilians in the western part of Burkina Faso, which they attributed to the army and allied militias fighting insurgents. The authorities have denied the accusations.
Videos circulating on social media this week showed dozens of bloodied bodies, including women, children, and the elderly, believed to be victims of the massacres.
The Fulani people, often associated with insurgent groups in the Sahel, are frequently stigmatised and accused of collaborating with militants.
Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has been battling escalating violence, with recent years seeing significant civilian and military casualties.
Critics have accused the government of using violent tactics to suppress opposition, including abductions and torture.
