Burkina Faso Minister denounces municipal police use of force

Georges Elanga Obam, the Minister of Decentralization, has issued a circular addressing the recurring use of disproportionate force by municipal police officers. The minister warned that certain agents are engaging in illegal use of force, which has led to traffic disruptions and physical harm to road users.

Under a 2022 presidential decree, municipal police are prohibited from using force or coercion against the population except in cases of self-defense. Obam has instructed mayors to ensure their officers wear proper regulatory uniforms and to maintain strict discipline, noting that mayors may face sanctions for non-compliance. The minister also suggested that municipal magistrates may request assistance from national law enforcement to supervise personnel if necessary.

In a separate local development, the municipal police in Bobo-Dioulasso have conducted a series of interventions between October 20 and 24, 2026. Through the Direction of Sanitation and Urban Tranquility, officers addressed citizen complaints regarding unsanitary conditions, foul odors, and the illegal discharge of wastewater into public gutters in several city sectors.