Crime in Burkina Faso

Formal crime-reporting and justice structures in Burkina Faso include the Police Nationale, the Gendarmerie nationale, the Police judiciaire and the Procureur du Faso. In the third quarter of 2025, authorities registered 21,997 ordinary crimes and offences, including 12,123 thefts, more than 2,300 cybercrime cases, about 2,000 fraud cases, 1,600 cases of breach of trust, 168 cases involving stolen goods, 96 rapes and 31 murders. These figures are registered cases rather than a national prevalence rate. Compared with the previous quarter, cybercrime rose by 20.30 percent and fraud by 4.72 percent, while theft fell by 13.60 percent, rape by 23.20 percent and murder by 26.19 percent. Compared with the third quarter of the previous year, cybercrime rose by 73.01 percent, fraud by 18.65 percent, theft by 3.41 percent, rape by 11.63 percent and murder by 6.90 percent. Armed attacks and assaults remain a serious practical risk. In the third quarter of 2025, 303 armed attacks or assaults were recorded, with 9 deaths, 5 injuries, 19 stolen vehicles and reported cash losses of CFA 61,495,350. Security reporting also identifies kidnapping, armed robbery, home invasion and carjacking as risks across the country. Kidnapping can occur in Ouagadougou as well as in more exposed Sahel and Est areas and may involve handover to terrorist groups; detailed terrorism analysis belongs to a separate security subject. Reduce exposure by keeping valuables out of sight, avoiding walking alone at night and limiting night travel. Daylight travel is safer than night travel, especially on roads outside Ouagadougou where vehicle stops, bus attacks and armed roadblocks can occur. Vary travel paths and patterns, monitor local security warnings and take extra care near crowds, markets, transport hubs, hotels, bars and religious sites when warnings apply. Foreign visitors should carry their passport or residence permit. A report can be made at a Police Nationale post seven days a week, at the nearest commissariat or at a gendarmerie brigade. The police can record a complaint, and an anonymous report can be submitted to the police or by calling 17. The Gendarmerie nationale can be reached at 16 around the clock. The CNVA uses 1010 for security alerts and witness information. Police secours operates regionally through a central commissariat. For urgent injuries, SAMU 15 is available in Ouagadougou, while the Sapeurs-Pompiers can be reached at 18. The Police judiciaire establishes offences, collects evidence, searches for suspects and transfers cases to the Procureur du Faso. The COSS coordinates police and gendarmerie cooperation, community policing and prevention, while the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Ouagadougou supports cross-border investigations. Digital crime can be reported to the BCLCC, including cyberharassment, hacking, identity theft, online fraud, phishing, hate speech and sextortion. The BCLCC accepts web reports and offers follow-up; urgent contact is available at +226 25 39 58 42 or +226 25 39 58 41, and by email at cybercrime@securite.gov.bf. The service advertises confidentiality, but no public standard response time or fee is established. Victims of violence may seek psychosocial support and mediation from the MFSNF, particularly women and girls. The service states that no documents or fee are required; access involves appearing in person and describing what happened. The current national reach and availability of accommodation are not fully documented. A historically documented victim-support centre offered temporary accommodation and assistance with an officer of judicial police. The DAJAV and FAJ appear in the justice administration structure, but a complaint and a psychosocial-support request are separate pathways. A civil-party complaint can require a deposit at the court registry when legal assistance is unavailable, and the amount and deadline cannot be stated uniformly. For a minor, the police site indicates that a parent or tutor should accompany the complaint. The Direction de la Justice Juvénile, the children’s judge and the chamber for minors handle different youth-related procedures. Access to protection and specialised services can vary by region, especially in conflict-affected or emergency areas. No general guarantee covers investigation time, shelter placement, compensation or physical protection, and access may be practically restricted where insecurity is severe.