Burkina Faso: The justice system gets a facelift with the “empty-files” operation
As announced by the Public Prosecutor of Faso at the Ouaga 1 High Court (TGI), Blaise Bazié, the special “empty-files” operation began on Monday, January 20, 2025, in several town halls and districts of Ouagadougou. The following day, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the Minister of Justice, Rodrigue Bayala, visited the sites to assess the working conditions of the judicial actors. His observation showed that the operation was proceeding under good conditions.
Officially launched on January 10, 2024, during a press conference, this operation aims to process about 2,000 pending cases by January 30, 2025. According to the prosecutor, these cases, some of which are over 10 years old, will be judged in single-judge sessions, held in specially arranged rooms. On the very first day, 188 out of the 200 scheduled cases were judged, achieving an execution rate of 94.5%. This significant progress was praised by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, who took the opportunity during his visit to encourage the judges, clerks, and other involved actors.
The Minister’s visit was conducted in two stages: first at the town hall of District 4, located in the Tanghin neighborhood, and then at the Ouaga 1 High Court. During his discussions, Rodrigue Bayala emphasized the importance of this operation in improving the efficiency of the judicial system. He highlighted that clearing the backlog of cases is crucial to accelerating the processing of new cases. The Minister also noted the public’s lack of interest in the hearings, attributing this to a misperception of justice. He called on the population to become more involved and to view justice as an essential educational tool.
The “empty-files” operation is progressing smoothly, and the judicial actors remain committed to achieving the set objectives. The Minister’s visit helped identify potential obstacles and ensured the continued effective implementation of this initiative, which is vital for restoring citizens’ trust in the judicial system.
