Koudougou: A new government initiative has been launched in Burkina Faso to facilitate the reintegration of prisoners while contributing to the country's development. In the city of the Red Rider, the launch took place on Wednesday, in the presence of the president of the special delegation of the commune, Am©d©e Par©, the director of MACK, as well as the provincial directors of Infrastructure and Water and Forests of Boulkiemd©.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative, named the Prison Labor-Intensive Work Support Initiative, allows prisoners to participate in public service projects. Launched on August 6 in Ziniar©, this initiative is now operational in all remand and correctional facilities across the country. Last Wednesday, the Koudougou Detention and Correctional Facility (MACK) officially deployed its first inmates into the field.

For this first phase, 500 inmates from various prisons were selected. Chosen based on their good behavior and the nature of their sentence, they will receive a sentence reduction in exchange for participating in community service. They will be distributed across 22 municipalities across the country.

In Koudougou, as elsewhere, inmates will be assigned tasks such as cleaning gutters, removing garbage, clearing brush in public spaces, and planting trees. These actions aim to improve the living environment of residents while offering inmates a concrete opportunity for social reintegration.

According to the president of the special delegation, Am©d©e Par©, this initiative represents a major asset for the community and convicted persons, because it combines the improvement of the living environment and the preparation of prisoners for their return to society.