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On Saturday, Burkina Faso announced the extension of the state of emergency that has been in effect in eight out of the country's 13 regions since the end of March. The interim parliament unanimously adopted the bill, which will extend the state of emergency for an additional six months, until October 29.
The objective of the extension, according to Justice Minister Bibata Nebie Ouedraogo, is to enhance and consolidate the efforts in combating insecurity by providing security forces with more opportunities and resources.
The government initially declared the state of emergency in March to address the areas most impacted by jihadist attacks. Under the state of emergency, security forces are granted the authority to conduct searches of homes at any time, day or night. It also imposes certain limitations on fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of movement and assembly.
In mid-April, Burkina Faso's military junta declared a "general mobilization" to combat a series of violent attacks attributed to jihadists.
Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency that spilled over from neighboring Mali in 2015. The country experienced two military coups in 2022. Captain Ibrahim Traore, the transitional president following the most recent coup on September 30, has set a goal of reclaiming 40 percent of the territory currently under the control of jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people, including civilians and military personnel, according to NGOs. Additionally, approximately two million individuals have been displaced as a result of the conflict.