The three magistrates’ unions published a press release in Ouagadougou on Sunday, June 30, rejecting the recent reform of the High Council of the Judiciary by refusing to participate in the appointment of new members of this council.
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At Burkina Fasofacing a Reform of the High Council of the Judiciary which was done without consulting them in December 2023, the three magistrates’ unions SAMAB, SBM and SMB are today playing the empty chair policy. While an assembly was convened this Saturday, June 29 to elect the members of the Council, the inter-union of magistrates passed the order not to participate in the various electoral colleges.
Thus, the inter-union asserts, out of 647 magistrates making up the colleges, only 53 took part in the elections of representatives. This record abstention carries a message described as ” unequivocal “The inter-union condemns the reform which undermines the independence of justice, judges believe. Prosecutors will in fact now be appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, on the proposal of the Minister of Justice.
The inter-union describes the ministry’s strategy as unhealthy, which does not bode well for relations between the two bodies. For its part, the Ministry of Justice does not seem to have experienced this election in the same way since it states that these elections took place ” without major incident “.
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