BURKINA Faso’s military government has been accused of engaging in activities that threaten the independence of the courts. The military government has forcibly conscripted magistrates who took action against pro-junta activists and other individuals, Reuters reports.
According to a joint statement from three magistrates’ unions, at least six magistrates have been enlisted into military service this month.
According to Reuters, the unions claim these magistrates had recently handled cases involving self-proclaimed supporters of the current government.
The statement notes that among those conscripted is a prosecutor who had ordered investigations into alleged forced disappearances and a judge overseeing a case against a pro-junta figure linked to a deadly landslide.
Critics, including human rights organizations, have accused the junta of suppressing dissent through kidnappings and conscriptions, as well as encouraging citizens to report suspicious neighbours under the guise of national security.
Burkina Faso’s military rulers, who came to power in a 2022 coup, have consistently declined to comment on such allegations, according to Reuters.
The country is battling a jihadist insurgency that has contributed to political instability across the Sahel region, leading to multiple coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger since 2020.
Reuters reports that the magistrates’ unions’ statement was circulated among journalists on Friday.
