Burkina Faso detains Dutch NGO workers on espionage charges

The military junta in Burkina Faso has arrested eight staff members of the Hague-based aid organisation INSO on suspicion of espionage and treason.

The group includes two French nationals, a Czech, a Malian and four Burkinabè employees, among them the country director and deputy director. INSO said the arrests took place some time ago but were not made public earlier. All eight remain in detention.

INSO – the International NGO Safety Organisation – is a non-profit group that supports the safety of humanitarian workers operating in conflict and high-risk areas. It has operated in Burkina Faso since 2019.

Burkina Faso’s security minister has accused INSO of “collecting and sharing sensitive security information harmful to national security and the interests of Burkina Faso” with foreign powers, broadcaster NOS reported.

INSO has said in a statement that it is a respected non-profit operating in more than 20 countries, monitoring security trends to help humanitarian workers carry out their activities safely. It said the data it collects is not confidential.

The NGO’s country director was arrested on 28 July. Since then, a further four  national staff and three international staff have been detained, including the global director of programmes who had travelled to the country in the hope of meeting relevant authorities and resolving the situation.

INSO said it has fully cooperated with the Burkinabè authorities throughout the investigation and has repeatedly sought direct contact with the minister of security.

“We categorically reject the allegations made regarding our activities in Burkina Faso and remain committed to doing everything in our power to secure the safe release of all our colleagues,” the organisation said in a statement.

Burkina Faso has been under military rule since 2022, when the army seized power amid ongoing attacks by armed groups across the country.