• Burkina Faso to accelerate online justice services rollout from 2026
• New platforms enable remote filings, documents, prison visit requests
• Reform aims widen access despite low digital governance ranking

Burkina Faso plans to speed up the move of its justice system online from 2026 to widen public access, President Ibrahim Traoré said on Dec. 31.

The government will continue efforts to digitise judicial documents, allowing citizens to access court services remotely rather than travelling to courts, which are largely based in cities, Traoré said in a national address. He added that users would be able to obtain legal documents and services without leaving their communities.

The announcement follows the launch of three digital platforms about two weeks earlier to make justice services more accessible. The platforms allow users to file and track complaints online, request prison visitation permits, and apply for documents from the commercial registry, including extracts, registration certificates and non-bankruptcy certificates.

Burkina Faso has already moved several judicial and administrative procedures online, including applications for nationality certificates and criminal records. Over a two-year period, the two platforms handled 467,000 requests and generated 337 million CFA francs ($603,700) in revenue.

The initiative is part of a broader push by authorities to expand the use of information and communication technologies as a driver of socio-economic development. Traoré said the country must overcome its current limitations to become a reference point in digital governance.

Burkina Faso currently ranks 175th out of 193 countries on the United Nations E-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.2895 out of 1, below both regional and global averages.

Official data from 2024 show that mobile phone coverage reaches 85% of the population, while 3G internet covers 64% and 4G 46%. The International Telecommunication Union estimates internet usage stood at 17% in 2023, compared with mobile phone penetration of 55.9%.

To address the digital gap, authorities plan to begin building “Citizen Houses” across the country this year. The centres will be set up in provincial capitals and local districts to help people who lack digital skills access public services through the new platforms, Traoré said.

Isaac K. Kassouwi