OUAGADOUGOU — Burkina Faso’s military junta closed the main Sunni mosque in Ouagadougou and arrested imam Mohamad Ishaq Kindo after he criticized a proposed law regulating religious freedoms. The closure was formalized through a decree issued by the regional governor, who cited risks of “public disorder” as the justification.

Worshippers gathered at the mosque demanding Kindo’s release, leading security forces to disperse the demonstrations. Residents reported arrests following clashes and police chases through parts of Ouagadougou. A security source said nearly 100 of Kindo’s supporters had been detained in recent days and transferred to a camp for what authorities described as “civic and citizenship training.”

Mohamad Ishaq Kindo was arrested on Tuesday after criticizing a proposed law aimed at regulating religious freedoms. The junta has increasingly targeted dissenting voices at home. Critics, activists, and civil society figures have faced arrests, suspensions, and intimidation.

The junta suspended Burkina Faso’s largest student union for three months and arrested its leader on accusations of “advocating terrorism.” The union had previously criticized the government’s repression and the junta’s failure to restore security.

Burkina Faso remains one of the countries hardest hit by jihadist violence in the Sahel region. Jihadist attacks continue to kill thousands every year and displace millions. When he took power, Captain Ibrahim Traore pledged to defeat armed groups within three months. However, insecurity has persisted across much of the country since then. Authorities have also been accused of forcibly conscripting detainees into military operations against jihadist groups.