Lives in: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s military-led government has arrested eight workers belonging to the private aid-worker security group INSO, accusing them of gathering sensitive information on military operations. According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the detained individuals allegedly monitored troop movements, documented convoy routes, and compiled what the government deems “strategically relevant data” — all under the guise of humanitarian work.
How we made it in Africa editor-in-chief Jaco Maritz spoke with aid-sector observers, INSO representatives, and analysts about the mounting tension between the humanitarian community and the junta, and what this means for aid delivery in a highly volatile security environment.
From Assistance to Accusation
INSO, founded to provide protection and logistical support for NGOs operating in high-risk regions, has provided security for humanitarian operations across West Africa. But the junta has accused some of its operatives of going beyond their stated mission: collecting classified data and sharing it with foreign actors. According to Sana, investigations show that the group maintained “unauthorised access” to military zones and sensitive intelligence channels.
The arrested include volunteers and contracted staffers of various nationalities — Burkinabé, French, Czech, and Malian — raising serious diplomatic and operational concerns.
INSO’s Denial and Warning
In a strongly worded response, INSO dismissed the allegations as “baseless and dangerous.” In a public statement, it called the claims “a mischaracterisation of our mission.”
“Our mandate is protection, not espionage. We operate with full transparency, and we have never collected secret information for third parties,” said INSO CEO Anna van der Veen.
The organisation emphasized that the data they gather is restricted to risk-assessment reports, not military intelligence, and that these reports are routinely shared with NGOs and local governments, not foreign intelligence agencies.
Humanitarian Fallout and Press Freedom Risks
The detentions have raised alarm among humanitarian actors and rights groups. Several NGOs warn that the move could deter international aid organisations from operating in Burkina Faso — a country already struggling with conflict, displacement, and deepening insecurity.
Civil society groups argue that the junta is using national security as a pretext to restrict aid work and tighten control over external actors. According to Lucien Kaboré, a Burkina-based development specialist:
“If NGOs are spied on or criminalised, vulnerable communities will suffer the most. Aid depends on trust — and this erodes it.”
Strategic and Political ImplicationsStrategic and Political Implications
Analysts suggest that the accusations against INSO are not merely about security. Rather, they reflect a broader pattern in which the junta is asserting sovereignty and pushing back against Western influence. By portraying international aid workers as spies, the government may be reinforcing narratives of foreign interference while consolidating power internally.
