Date of publication:

09/22/2026

Burkina Faso

Do domestic laws and policies provide for the cancellation of refugee status?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Analysis

Article 18 of Law No. 042-2008/AN of 23 October 2008 affirms that refugee status ceases to be applied to refugees if a reliable information emerged after they were officially recognized as a refugee, suggesting that they should not have been granted refugee status. 

Note: while the provision is listed in the national law among the grounds of cessation, it is in effect a clause of cancellation of refugee status.

According to Article 28 Decree No. 2011-119/PRES/PM/MAECR of 2011 on the implementation of the Law on the Status of Refugees in Burkina Faso, refugee status is cancelled if there are good reasons to believe it had been erroneously granted in one or more of the following cases:

  • the individual presented erroneous or false facts that led to the determination of refugee status, with or without fraudulent intentions;
  • bad behavior of the individual, in particular threats towards RSD officers or acts or attempts of corruption;
  • mistakes of fact or in law committed by the eligibility Committee or by the Appeal Committee in the application of the inclusion or exclusion criteria of the refugee definition.

 

 

 

 

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    Law No. 042-2008/AN of 2008 on the Status of Refugees in Burkina Faso
    • Year: 2008
    • Type: Domestic law
    • Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life
    • Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2008/fr/79997

    Legal provision

    Decret N° 2008-755/PRES du 27 novembre 2008 promulguant la loi n° 042-2008/AN du 23 octobre 2008 portant statut des réfugiés au Burkina Faso.JO N°51 DU 18 DECEMBRE 2008 - Generic

    DECRET N° 2008-755/PRES du 27 novembre 2008 promulguant la loi n° 042-2008/AN du 23 octobre 2008 portant statut des réfugiés au Burkina Faso.JO N°51 DU 18 DECEMBRE 2008 - Generic

    Decree no 2011-119/PRES/PM/MAECR of 2011 on the modalities for implementing the law on the status of refugees in Burkina Faso

    Legal provision

    Décret No. 2011-119/PRES/PM/MAECR de 2011, relatif aux modalites d'application de la loi portant statut des réfugiés au Burkina Faso - Generic

    Décret No. 2011-119/PRES/PM/MAECR de 2011, relatif aux modalites d'application de la loi portant statut des réfugiés au Burkina Faso - Generic