Urgently appeal for the release of human rights lawyer Ini Benjamine Esther Doli in Burkina Faso
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received alarming updates on the arbitrary detention and prosecution of human rights lawyer Ini Benjamine Esther Doli in Burkina Faso. This case underscores the escalating repression against civil society and legal professionals in the country.
Key facts of the case
Ini Benjamine Esther Doli, a prominent human rights lawyer and former substitute prosecutor at the Bobo-Dioulasso High Court, was forcibly taken from her home in Ouagadougou during the night of August 31 to September 1, 2025. Her abduction followed a critical Facebook post in which she compared the current situation in Burkina Faso to the revolutionary era under Thomas Sankara, highlighting systemic judicial failures and human rights abuses.
On November 10, 2025, the High Court of Ouagadougou convicted her of:
- contempt of the President (Article 352-2 of the Penal Code)
- attempting to demoralize the armed forces (Article 312-11 of the Penal Code)
She was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1,000,000 F.CFA (approximately €1,525). While the charge of treason (Article 311-2) was dismissed, the proceedings remain ongoing. As of this urgent appeal, she remains detained in the women’s section of Ouagadougou Civil Prison, where she has access to legal counsel, family visits, and medical care.
Background and context
Ini Benjamine Esther Doli had previously used her platform to expose human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and threats against activists and journalists. Her last public statement before her abduction criticized the militarization of justice and the suppression of dissent. This pattern of intimidation and detention reflects a broader crackdown on civil society in Burkina Faso, where legal professionals and activists face systemic persecution for advocating fundamental freedoms.
Her case is not isolated. Other defenders, such as lawyer Guy Hervé Kam (co-founder of Balai Citoyen), remain detained under similar charges. Journalists and activists, including Amadou Sawadogo, Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, and Atiana Serge Oulon, have also faced enforced disappearances or arbitrary detention in recent months.
International obligations and calls for action
The Observatory urges the Burkinabè authorities to:
- ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders;
- initiate an independent investigation into her abduction and the disappearances of other activists;
- guarantee freedom of expression and association, in line with Burkina Faso’s constitutional obligations and international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
How to take action
Write to the following authorities to demand justice and the protection of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and other defenders:
- Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR II)
X: @CapitaineIb22 - Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso
X: @J_E_Ouedraogo - Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Email: [email protected] - Jean Marie Karamoko Traore, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Email: [email protected]; X: @JeanMarieTraore - Burkina Faso National Human Rights Commission
Email: [email protected]; X: @BurkinaCndhX - Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations (Geneva)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected] - Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the UN (New York)
Email: [email protected] - Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the African Union (Addis Ababa)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
We also encourage you to contact the Burkinabè diplomatic missions in your respective countries.
Please inform the Observatory of any actions taken by referencing this appeal (BFA 003 / 0925 / OBS 054.1).
For urgent alerts, contact the Observatory via:
- Email: [email protected]
- FIDH Emergency Line: +33 1 43 55 25 18
- OMCT Emergency Line: +41 22 809 49 39
