ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) 鈥 A prominent human rights defender in Burkina Faso has been abducted by unknown individuals, rights groups have announced, in what activists say could be the latest attempt by the military government to target dissidents using a controversial law.
Daouda Diallo, international human rights award, was abducted on Friday in Burkina Faso鈥檚 capital of Ouagadougou after visiting the passport department where he had gone to renew his documents, according to the local Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of Communities civic group, which Diallo founded.
His captors 鈥 in civilian clothing 鈥 accosted him as he tried to enter his car and took him to 鈥渁n unknown location,鈥 the group said in a statement on Friday, warning that Diallo's health could be at risk and demanding his 鈥渋mmediate and unconditional鈥 release.
Amnesty International's West and Central Africa office said Diallo's abduction was 鈥減resumably (for him) to be forcibly conscripted鈥 after he was listed last month among those ordered to join Burkina Faso鈥檚 security forces in their fight against jihadi violence as provided by a new law.
鈥淎mnesty International denounces the use of conscription to intimidate independent voices in and calls for the release of Dr. Diallo,鈥 the group said via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Earlier this year, Burkina Faso鈥檚 junta announced the 鈥済eneral mobilization鈥 decree to recapture territories lost as continue to ravage the landlocked country.
The decree empowers the government to send people to join the fight against the armed groups. But it is also being used to 鈥渢arget individuals who have openly criticized the junta鈥 and 鈥渢o silence peaceful dissent and punish its critics,鈥 Human Rights Watch has said.
HRW said at least a dozen journalists, civil society activists and opposition party members were informed by the government in November that they would be conscripted, including Diallo, who joined Burkina Faso activists in condemning the move.
鈥淭he simple fact of showing an independence of position is enough to be conscripted,鈥 said Ousmane Diallo, a researcher with Amnesty International in Burkina Faso.
鈥淩ight now, civil society activists, human rights defenders and even leaders of opposition political parties do not dare express freely their opinions because this decree is being used to silence and intimidate all of the voices that are independent,鈥 he added.
Daouda Diallo won the prestigious Martin Ennals awards for his work in documenting abuses and protecting people鈥檚 rights in Burkina Faso where security forces have been fighting jihadi violence for many years.
A pharmacist turned activist, he that he鈥檚 regularly followed, his home has been robbed and he rarely sleeps in the same place for fear of being killed.
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Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
