The National Anti-Corruption Network (REN-LAC) has released its 2024 report on corruption in Burkina Faso, revealing that the Municipal Police, Customs Service, and National Police remain the country’s most corruption-prone public institutions.
Presented on Monday, December 22, 2025, the report paints a troubling picture of governance at a time when Burkina Faso continues to grapple with serious security and institutional challenges.
High Perception of Corruption Across Public Services
According to the survey findings, 64.33 percent of respondents believe corruption was frequent or very frequent in 2024. Despite a slight decline in its score compared to the previous year, the Municipal Police retained its position as the most corrupt public service, followed closely by Customs and the National Police.
REN-LAC notes that these rankings do not necessarily reflect worsening behavior alone, but rather the persistence of systemic vulnerabilities in public service delivery.
Women More Exposed to Corruption Risks
The report also highlights gender-based exposure to corruption. Nearly 48 percent of respondents said women are particularly vulnerable when accessing services such as employment opportunities, healthcare, education, justice, and business-related processes.
This finding underscores how corruption compounds existing social inequalities, making access to basic rights more precarious for women.
Mixed Public Confidence in Government Anti-Corruption Efforts
Public satisfaction with government action against corruption declined slightly. While 47 percent of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with government efforts in 2024, this figure dropped from 50.5 percent in 2023. Perception levels also varied significantly from one city to another.
REN-LAC Secretary Permanent Pissyamba Ouédraogo said the report comes at a critical moment marked by an ongoing security crisis and mounting governance pressures. He warned that the rising perception of corruption remains a serious concern that demands sustained institutional reform.
Control Institutions Seen as Key Actors
Ouédraogo emphasized that the report is not intended to stigmatize frontline institutions whose agents often operate under difficult conditions. Instead, he said REN-LAC aims to support continuous improvement in service quality and accountability.
He noted that state control bodies continue to play a central role in anti-corruption efforts through audits and investigations, though their impact is often limited by technical and financial constraints.
On the non-state side, REN-LAC reported receiving 918 corruption complaints in 2024 and actively monitoring 131 judicial cases, highlighting civil society’s growing role in accountability.
Call for Stronger, Coordinated Action
The report concludes with a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening both state and non-state anti-corruption mechanisms. REN-LAC argues that without decisive action at the highest levels of government, corruption risks further undermining public trust and national stability.
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