Burkina Faso's transitional Legislative Assembly adopted a controversial bill aimed at strengthening state oversight of religious practice to preserve public order, social cohesion and secularism, Jeune Afrique reported on June 22. The legislation tightens control over religious associations through mandatory affiliation to a recognized umbrella body, a new supervisory authority, stricter regulation of financing and administration of places of worship, and criminal penalties for incitement to religious hatred and related speech.

On May 26, prominent Imam Muhammad Ishaq Kindo was arrested after publicly opposing the draft legislation; his detention triggered demonstrations in Ouagadougou, where worshippers called for his release, before security forces dispersed crowds and detained dozens of supporters. Since the September 2022 coup, Burkina Faso's junta has steadily tightened control over public discourse, narrowing civic space through restrictions on protests, media and civil society activity.