Seven Burkinabè teenagers sentenced to prison in Abidjan
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L'Intelligent d'Abidjan
Seven Burkinabè teenagers have been sentenced to three months in prison by Abidjan’s Economic and Financial Criminal Division for offences linked to illegal mining and pollution. At the hearing on 26 October 2026, two other breach-of-trust cases involving more than 3 billion CFA francs each were adjourned, reports L’Intelligent d’Abidjan.
The children’s court of Abidjan’s Economic and Financial Criminal Division has sentenced seven Burkinabè teenagers, aged 16 to 17, to three months in prison for offences linked to illegal mining and pollution, reports L’Intelligent d’Abidjan. The judgment was handed down on Monday 26 October 2026.
The young people were arrested between June and July at illegal gold-mining sites in Maféré, Kossou, Bokabo and Affiénou, Ivory Coast. At the hearing, they said they had come at the invitation of employers who had promised them work; one of them said a relative had presented gold mining as a highly profitable activity.
On the same day, two breach-of-trust cases involving 3.318 billion and 3.128 billion CFA francs respectively were heard by the Economic and Financial Criminal Division. Proceedings in the case involving a South African manager were adjourned until 18 November 2026; the other case was postponed until 27 November.
