The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Specialized Judicial Pole for the Repression of Terrorist Acts in Ouagadougou has initiated over six proceedings against approximately 45 individuals and several legal entities. Two women are among those implicated in the cases, which involve alleged terrorist activities. The proceedings were announced during a press conference held on November 13, 2026.
The charges brought against the accused individuals include complicity in terrorist associations, apologia for terrorism, dissemination of images and videos with terrorist connotations, and financing of terrorism. Other alleged offenses include defamation, attempts to demoralize national armed forces, and disrespect towards public authorities. The majority of those implicated are reportedly residing outside of Burkina Faso.
In response to the situation, the Public Prosecutor's Office has engaged in international judicial cooperation efforts. International arrest warrants, extradition requests, and international mutual legal assistance requests have been issued to countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, the United States, and France. The accused individuals are categorized based on the judicial measures taken against them.
Some individuals are subject to arrest warrants with extradition requests, while others are only subject to arrest warrants. A third category of individuals is subject to international mutual legal assistance requests. The Public Prosecutor's Office has also sought cooperation from American authorities to identify administrators of certain Facebook pages accused of promoting terrorism.
The office has requested the removal of these pages and initiated a judicial investigation into certain media outlets, including France 24, and some of their commentators, such as Wassim Nasr. Additional investigations are ongoing, and the list of implicated individuals may evolve in the coming days.
According to the Public Prosecutor General, Désiré Sawadogo, the proceedings aim to bring those responsible for alleged terrorist activities to justice. He emphasized the importance of international judicial cooperation in pursuing those implicated, while ensuring that the procedures respect the law and fundamental rights of the individuals concerned.
The cases highlight the ongoing efforts of Burkinabé authorities to combat terrorism and address related issues in the country. The authorities continue to work with international partners to identify and prosecute individuals involved in alleged terrorist activities.
Key points
- Over 50 individuals, including 2 women, face charges in Burkina Faso for alleged terrorism-related activities.
- International judicial cooperation efforts are underway to pursue those implicated, who are mostly residing outside of Burkina Faso.
- The cases involve various alleged offenses, including complicity in terrorist associations, apologia for terrorism, and financing of terrorism.
