FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOLIDARITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOLIDARITY STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF BURKINA FASO STUDENT UNION AND THE PROTECTION OF CIVIC FREEDOMS

The Ghana Students Association of Research, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creative Arts (GSAREICA) expresses profound concern regarding the reported suspension of the General Union of Burkina Students (UGEB) and the alleged arrest of student leaders following their public expression of views on governance, security, and civic freedoms in Burkina Faso.

We extend our deepest solidarity to the affected students, their families, and the wider academic community during this difficult and uncertain time.

We send a message of compassion, unity, and encouragement: your voices are valued, your experiences matter, and you are not alone.

GSAREICA strongly calls upon relevant international and regional human rights mechanisms, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other global human rights institutions, to urgently monitor the situation and ensure full compliance with international human rights standards, particularly those relating to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the protection of civic space.We further urge all relevant national authorities to exercise restraint, uphold dialogue, and engage constructively with student leaders and civil society actors.

The inclusion of young people in national discourse is essential to peacebuilding, democratic governance, and sustainable development.

Student movements have historically played a vital role in advancing social justice, educational reform, and democratic progress. Their engagement must be protected and guided through dialogue rather than repression.

GSAREICA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the dignity, rights, and empowerment of students across Africa and beyond.

We stand in full solidarity with students in Burkina Faso and all young people advocating peacefully for justice, accountability, and inclusive governance.In moments of difficulty, the global student community must remain united in empathy, principle, and action.We stand with them. We stand for human rights.

Ghana Students Association of Research, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creative Arts (GSAREICA)28 May 2026