Burkina Faso: A Hub for Illicit Activities

Introduction

Ouagadougou - Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African nation, has emerged as a hotbed of illicit activities, including drug trafficking and organized crime. The country’s porous borders and weak law enforcement capabilities have made it an attractive transshipment point for drugs from Latin America to other regions.

Terrorism and Organized Crime

The northern and eastern regions of Burkina Faso are plagued by terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. These groups have expanded their activities to include organized crime, such as:

Smuggling counterfeit goods
Pharmaceutical contraband
Illegal gold mining

Corruption is rampant among state actors, who are believed to facilitate drug and contraband trafficking, including fuel and cigarettes. Foreign actors are also involved in the country’s criminal networks, with many gangs connected to individuals from Latin America.

Leadership and Governance

Despite efforts to address corruption, Burkina Faso’s government has struggled to provide basic services and combat organized crime. The country has ratified international treaties related to organized crime, but lacks the capacity for effective enforcement.

The government has also faced criticism for its handling of terrorist groups, with reports of:

Human rights abuses
Extrajudicial killings by security forces

Corruption is perceived as high, and access to information is limited.

Criminal Justice and Security

Burkina Faso’s border control efforts are hindered by the country’s porous borders and lack of resources. The threat of Islamic extremism has prompted international and national investments in strengthening law enforcement and investigative capacity, but this focus on counterterrorism has neglected organized crime.

The judicial system is also plagued by inefficiencies, with a significant portion of the prison population consisting of pre-trial detainees. Extrajudicial killings and attacks on civilians by security forces have been documented, and there is a lack of accountability.

Economic and Financial Environment

Burkina Faso’s large informal economy and weak financial intelligence unit hinder efforts to combat money laundering. Corruption among state actors has contributed to the problem, with many cases of stolen assets still in use.

Poverty remains high, and the country faces significant challenges in:

Health
Education
Gender equality

The government’s plan for economic transformation may help reduce incentives for criminal activity, but doing business remains difficult due to poverty and complicated regulations.

While Burkina Faso has made progress in addressing human trafficking, victim services remain insufficient. The country lacks a witness protection program and formal strategy to promote victim participation in trials.

However, the government has implemented initiatives to prevent organized crime, including:

Training for law enforcement and border management
Initiatives to promote social cohesion and advocate for vulnerable groups

Civil society organizations play a critical role in promoting social cohesion and advocating for vulnerable groups, despite facing challenges in their work.