Background of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli’s case
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has received fresh information regarding the unjust conviction and continued arbitrary detention of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli, a prominent Burkinabè human rights lawyer and advocate. Formerly a substitute prosecutor for the Faso at the High Court of Bobo-Dioulasso and a government commissioner at the Administrative Court of Ouagadougou, she earned her place on the Burkina Faso Bar Association’s roster in July 2024.
Legal proceedings and current status
On November 10, 2025, the High Court of Ouagadougou delivered its verdict in a closed-door hearing. Ini Benjamine Esther Doli was found guilty of “contempt of the Head of State” (Article 352-2 of the Penal Code) and “attempting to demoralize the armed forces” (Article 312-11 of the Penal Code). These charges stemmed from critical posts she made on her Facebook account. She was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1,000,000 F.CFA (approximately €1,525). The lawyer has filed an appeal against the ruling, while the charge of “treason” (Article 311-2 of the Penal Code) was dropped due to insufficient evidence. As of this report, she remains incarcerated in the women’s section of the Ouagadougou Civil Prison, where she has access to legal counsel, family visits, and necessary medical care.
Circumstances surrounding her arrest
Ini Benjamine Esther Doli was forcibly taken from her home in Ouagadougou during the early hours of September 1, 2025, by armed individuals claiming to be members of the national gendarmerie. This occurred shortly after her return from an international trip. Just before her abduction, she had posted on Facebook criticizing the state of governance in Burkina Faso, stating, “Brussels Airlines has just landed at Ouagadougou Airport […]. The late Thomas Sankara initiated a revolution, but we have seen nothing of the horrors unfolding today! At least he established people’s courts to try suspects, but he never overstepped justice to brutalize his own people.” This was her final public statement before her enforced disappearance.
Through her social media platforms, Ini Benjamine Esther Doli consistently highlighted systemic abuses, including intimidation, abductions, and violations of fundamental rights. She also criticized the judiciary’s inefficiency, lack of independence, and delays in delivering justice. Her posts condemned the misuse of public funds to silence dissent and obstruct judicial processes. One of her notable statements read, “It is cowardly beyond measure to use weapons paid for by taxpayers’ money to intimidate, abduct, and silence the people, and above all, to prevent justice from functioning freely. What unprecedented terror!”
Timeline of legal actions against her
On September 4, 2025, the President of the Burkina Faso Bar Association was informed of imminent legal proceedings against Ini Benjamine Esther Doli. By September 6, the Faso Prosecutor’s Office had launched an investigation into her Facebook posts, citing alleged violations of the Penal Code, including “treason”, “contempt of the Head of State”, and “demoralizing the armed forces”.
Broader context of repression
The Observatory has drawn parallels with the case of Guy Hervé Kam, a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the Balai Citoyen movement. Kam was detained at Ouagadougou International Airport on January 24, 2024, upon returning from a professional trip. After being released and re-arrested twice, he remains in arbitrary detention, charged with “conspiracy and criminal association”.
These incidents are part of a disturbing pattern of repression targeting civil society and human rights defenders in Burkina Faso. In recent months, several activists and journalists have faced abductions or enforced disappearances. Notable cases include:
- Amadou Sawadogo, a Balai Citoyen member, who was forcibly disappeared on March 21, 2025, and released on May 26, 2025.
- Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, Balai Citoyen’s executive secretary, who was abducted on March 30, 2025, and remains missing.
- Journalists Boukary Ouoba, Luc Pagbeguem, and Guezouma Sanogo, who were abducted on March 24, 2025. Ouoba and Pagbeguem were released on July 17, 2025, while Sanogo was freed on July 21, 2025.
- Atiana Serge Oulon, an investigative journalist and editor of the newspaper L’Événement, who was abducted on June 24, 2024, and remains missing.
Call to action
The Observatory strongly condemns the conviction and arbitrary detention of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli, viewing it as a blatant attempt to punish her for exercising her right to free expression and her legitimate human rights advocacy. It urges the military authorities in Burkina Faso to:
- Ensure the physical and psychological safety of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and all human rights defenders in the country.
- Immediately and unconditionally release Ini Benjamine Esther Doli and all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders.
- Conduct a thorough investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible for her enforced disappearance and the disappearances of other human rights defenders.
- Uphold fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and association, in line with international human rights standards, including Articles 19 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
How you can help: Write to the following authorities in Burkina Faso to demand action:
- Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration II (MPSR II) – @CapitaineIb22 (X/Twitter)
- Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso – @J_E_Ouedraogo (X/Twitter)
- Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Relations with Institutions, Keeper of the Seals – [email protected]
- Jean Marie Karamoko Traore, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabè Abroad – [email protected]; @JeanMarieTraore (X/Twitter)
- National Human Rights Commission of Burkina Faso – [email protected]; @BurkinaCndhX (X/Twitter)
- Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office in Geneva – [email protected]; [email protected]
- Oumarou Ganou, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations in New York – [email protected]
- Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – [email protected]; [email protected]
Additionally, reach out to Burkina Faso’s diplomatic missions in your respective countries. Please inform the Observatory of any actions taken by referencing this urgent appeal.
