CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE _____________________________________________________________________ Modern mechanisms 159. The mediator of Burkina Faso. The CRM welcomes the existence of a national ombudsman in Burkina Faso. The overall mission assigned to the ombudsman is to address the need for dialogue and understanding between the administration and the people. This permanent dialogue must enable the rigidity, inertia and slowness of administrative structures and bodies to be broken down in order to combat harmful practices by public officials and to contribute to the setting up of a government that respects the law and citizens. 160. The mission noted that, in 2006 alone, the ombudsman received a significant number of complaints. The 277 files received in 2006 can be ranked as follows according to the number and nature of the complaints: (1) 116 files were opened regarding complaints related to the careers of public servants. This type of complaint was the most frequent and concerned applications relating to the management of the administrative career of public officials. (2) 107 files were opened with regard to complaints of a financial nature. These complaints related to matters such as payment of function allowances, services, housing, and so on, possibly resulting from career reclassifications or reconstitutions. There was also a fairly high number of payment claims relating to the rights of those dismissed for judicial and administrative liquidation. Finally, there were those concerns related to the payment of the social security contributions of retired workers. (3) 47 complaints concerned land and domains, concerns that were generally raised in a collective manner. Sometimes, the specificity of the complaints meant that entire populations were involved. In most cases, complainants either contested the amount of the compensation that they had received, or claimed that they had been evicted in accordance with procedures that they considered illegal. (4) Seven complaints related to the problem of the non-implementation of court decisions. Although this category comprised the least number of complaints received in 2006, such complaints are becoming increasingly numerous. 161. During its meetings with stakeholders, the CRM noted that rural people rely more on traditional authorities to resolve their conflicts. This framework of conflict management and resolution is marked by the absence of a regulatory status that determines the role and place of customary authorities in society, thereby enshrining, in a formal way, decisions taken by these traditional bodies. Indeed, the traditional authorities as a whole are unaware of the relevant provisions of the constitutional, legislative and regulatory framework and, more specifically, of the provisions of the civil code, the penal code and the criminal procedure code. 162. To alleviate, if not eradicate, this trend, the people met by the CRM underscored their desire to see a genuine approach adopted for the prevention and management of conflicts among farmers, and between farmers and breeders. Efforts in this regard are actually being made in several areas. Such efforts include the strengthening of the institutional and technical capacity of actors at village and departmental levels. Indeed, the dramatic events that occurred at Sideradougou, Baleré, Gogo, etc. – which saw farmers and nomads 93