Burkina Faso Launches National Prison Labor Program to Reduce Sentences and Promote Reintegration

Burkina Faso has launched the National Initiative for Community Service Work (TIG), a programme offering eligible inmates reduced sentences in exchange for labour-intensive public service.

At a ceremony held in Ziniaré on Saturday, Justice Minister Edasso Bayala, accompanied by Infrastructure Minister Adama Luc Sorgho, announced the start of this initiative that will involve 500 inmates across 22 municipalities.

The core incentive of the programme is clear and impactful: one month of community work will earn three months off a prison sentence. Described by Bayala as both “beneficial and humane,” the initiative is backed by Law No. 035-2024/ALT and seeks to provide a second chance for inmates while contributing meaningfully to society.

Under the TIG programme, detainees will engage in tangible community service projects, including: Cleaning 300 hectares of land, clearing 150 kilometres of drainage canals, collecting 1,500 cubic metres of waste, and planting 10,000 trees.

The operations will be supervised by the penitentiary administration in collaboration with the Technical Secretariat for Labour-Intensive Road Works (ST-TRHIMO).

Equipment such as wheelbarrows, shovels, and tree seedlings was handed over to the Ziniaré Correctional Facility during the launch.

Infrastructure Minister Sorgho emphasised that the programme contributes to a sustainable transformation of living conditions for the Burkinabè population.

The Justice Minister also visited the construction site of the access road to Ouagadougou’s High-Security Prison, which is reportedly 82.88 per cent complete. This initiative aligns closely with the vision of President Ibrahim Traoré, who advocates for a justice system that serves society, including those behind bars.

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