Como©: The High Commissioner invites associations to comply with the new law on freedom of association

At the initiative of the High Commissioner of the Como© Province, Mathieu Tingueri, an information and awareness meeting on Law No. 011-2025/ALT of July 17, 2025, on freedom of association in Burkina Faso was held in Banfora for the benefit of association leaders in the province. This meeting aimed to help community organizations better understand the provisions of the new regulations and the steps to take to comply with them.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the High Commissioner commended the strong mobilization of the associations and their contribution to the socio-economic development of the province. He paid tribute to all the associations working in sectors such as education, health, social and humanitarian action, the promotion of women and youth, environmental protection, social cohesion, and economic development. These organizations are essential partners of the public administration in improving the living conditions of the population.

The top official of Como© province explained that the adoption of the new law meets the requirements of good governance, transparency, accountability, and national security. This reform aims to improve the associative framework, strengthen the credibility of organizations, and ensure greater alignment of their actions with national development priorities.

The High Commissioner also drew the participants' attention to the obligation for all associations legally constituted under the old law to comply with the new provisions by July 22, 2026, at the latest. After this deadline, the associations concerned will be deemed dissolved. Addressing the situation in the province, he noted that none of the 876 associations registered between 2018 and 2025 had yet completed the formalities required to comply with the new legislation. He considered this a cause for concern given the approaching deadline and appealed to all association leaders to take the necessary steps to regularize their situation within the allotted timeframe.

While reassuring the associative actors of the administration's support in this process, Mr. Tingueri invited them to carefully follow the various communications that would be presented during the meeting and to actively participate in the discussions to better understand the innovations introduced by the law.

Following the discussions, the association leaders expressed their satisfaction with the clarifications provided regarding the new law and pledged to comply with the applicable regulations. They also welcomed the High Commissioner's initiative, which enabled them to better understand the implications of this reform and the resulting obligations. This meeting thus marks an important step in the process of bringing Como© associations into compliance with the new legal framework governing freedom of association in Burkina Faso.