Financial Crime World

Corruption in Burkina Faso: A Persistent Challenge

Corruption in the Judiciary

Burkina Faso’s judiciary has faced significant challenges due to corruption. Despite massive protests, judges have been ousted by their peers.

Notable Cases

  • Judge Salifou Nébié: Killed after ruling against reforming the constitution, sparking suspicions of retribution.
  • 2005 Media Exposé: An investigation into corruption within the judiciary revealed over 30 cases of questionable practices and suspicious behavior.

Corruption in Law Enforcement

Corruption is widespread among law enforcement agencies, with local police soliciting bribes at a high rate.

Statistics

  • 2017 REN-LAC Survey: Local police considered the most corrupt institution in the country.
  • 2019 Survey: 29% of respondents believed the police to be corrupt.

Corruption in the Armed Forces

Transparency International UK’s Defence Governance Index gave Burkina Faso a low grade due to major problems related to accountability and procurement within the armed forces.

Historical Context

The military has historically been active in national politics, posing a risk to democracy.

Initiatives have been taken to improve accountability and transparency in the public sector, but allegedly corrupt judges and prosecutors from the Compaoré era still hold power.

Key Developments

  • 2014 Popular Uprising: Led to the resignation of Compaoré and a subsequent overhaul of the country’s legal and institutional framework.
  • Post-Compaoré Era Reforms: Efforts have been made to improve accountability and transparency, but more work is needed.

Public Perception

Corruption remains a significant challenge in Burkina Faso, with many citizens believing that corruption is widespread across different institutions.

Statistics

  • 2019 Survey: 31% of respondents believed the judiciary to be corrupt or extremely corrupt.
  • 2017 Afrobarometer Survey: 29% of respondents believed most or all judges and magistrates to be corrupt.