Burkina Faso
This country page describes, in brief, data that TJET has compiled on regime transitions, intrastate conflict episodes, and transitional justice mechanisms. For details on the data included on this page, view the FAQ.
For Burkina Faso, TJET has collected information on: six amnesties between 1985 and 2015; 24 domestic trials starting between 1987 and 2020; one truth commission mandated in 1998; and one vetting policy starting in 2015.
Select any transitional justice mechanism in the table below to view a timeline in the figure.
Country Background
Democratic Transition
Based on well-known democracy data, TJET records two democratic transitions starting in 1978 and 2016.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Violent Conflict
Based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, TJET records three violent intrastate conflict episodes between 1987 and 2020 (during four calendar years), involving three distinct armed opposition groups fighting against the government. Two conflict episodes were internationalized by involvement of external state actors.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions. Source: UCDP Dyadic Dataset version 23.1, https://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/index.html#dyadic.
Transitional Justice Data
As of 2020, Burkina Faso ranks 53rd out of 174 on TJET’s legacy of violence index. For a full list of country rankings over time, view the index page, and for an explanation of the index, view the Methods & FAQs page.
Amnesties
Burkina Faso had six amnesties between 1985 and 2015. One occurred in the context of democratic transition. One was passed after internal armed conflict. Five amnesties released political prisoners.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Domestic Trials
TJET has compiled data on 24 domestic prosecutions between 1987 and 2020. These include 21 regular human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which 24 persons were convicted; one intrastate conflict prosecution of state agents, in which one person was convicted; and three opposition prosecutions of state agents or opposition members, in which four persons were convicted.
Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Truth Commissions
Burkina Faso mandated one truth commission in 1998. The commission completed its operations in 1999. The commission issued a final report, which is publicly available. The report included recommendations for prosecutions, reparations, and institutional reforms.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Vetting Policies
Burkina Faso had one vetting policy in 2015. This policy provided sanctions based on past individual conduct.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.