Madar (Ouagadougou) - Imam Mohamed Ishaq Kindo has been released in Burkina Faso after about five months in detention, according to several sources within the Sunni community quoted by RFI on Monday, November 2, 2026, though his release comes with many restrictions.
A community member told RFI the imam "has been placed in isolation, in a place of rest, to avoid a gathering in front of his home." Visits, photographs and public speaking are reportedly banned. Another member who says he saw him said he is "doing well" despite losing weight, likening his conditions to a form of "house arrest."
Initially a supporter of the government, according to RFI, the imam was arrested on May 26, 2026, on the eve of Tabaski, after criticising a bill to regulate religious freedoms and worship.
His arrest brought hundreds of followers onto the streets of Ouagadougou. The gathering was dispersed with tear gas and dozens of protesters were detained; they have since returned to their families after months in custody. The main Sunni mosque in Ouagadougou remains closed.
