Ouagadougou Court of Appeal Swears in 20 New Magistrates

Ouagadougou, December 12, 2025 - Twenty newly appointed magistrates officially joined Burkina Faso’s judiciary this Friday during a swearing-in ceremony at the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal.

Presided over by Adama Nana, President of the Court of Appeal, the ceremony took place in the presence of Adama Ouedraogo, President of the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM), and several senior magistrates. Each magistrate solemnly declared:

"I swear to faithfully and diligently fulfill my duties, to exercise them with absolute impartiality and respect for the law, to respect professional secrecy, and to conduct myself in all things as a worthy and loyal servant of justice."

The President of the Court emphasized the legal necessity of this oath, marking it as a mandatory step for all magistrates assuming judicial positions. Attorney General Pingrédewindé Désiré Sawadogo underlined the importance of rigor, integrity, and responsibility as guiding principles for the new magistrates. He encouraged them to support ongoing reforms aimed at humanizing the judicial system, including the implementation of community service as an alternative to imprisonment.

Following the ceremony, the magistrates were declared fit to serve and will assume their duties across multiple jurisdictions, including the High Courts of Ouaga II, Koudougou, Manga, Léo, Ziniaré, Kaya, Pô, Yako, Ouahigouya, Kongoussi, Djibo, and the Koudougou Labor Court, serving as judges or deputy prosecutors.

This induction reinforces Burkina Faso’s commitment to strengthening its judiciary and promoting professional and ethical judicial service across the nation.