Banfora: The High Court (TGI) of Banfora delivered its verdict on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in the trial opposing the Comoe National Sugar Company to an alleged individual identified by the initials SLM, prosecuted for defamation against the company's Director General and SA.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the defendant SLM had published on social media a question accompanied by photos suggesting an irregular sale of materials belonging to SOSUCO. During the investigation, the defendant explained that while passing through Kirbina on his way home, he noticed materials, including used tires, scrap metal, and other objects, dumped in front of a private residence. According to his statement, it was in this context that he took photos of these materials, which he then shared online. Although he claimed he simply wanted to gather information and raise awareness, the post was widely shared and generated comments deemed defamatory.
The prosecutor argued that these statements had damaged the reputation of the company, its CEO, and the corporation, emphasizing that the materials in question had been legally acquired, with receipts and supporting documentation. The plaintiff also alleged moral and reputational harm.
At the end of the trial, SLM was found guilty of the charges against him. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended, and fined 500,000 CFA francs, with a further 12 months' court-ordered payment in the event of non-payment. Furthermore, the Court ordered the convicted person to pay 700,000 CFA francs in costs. Regarding civil damages, a symbolic one franc was awarded to the Director General of SOSUCO for damages, while SA is to receive 1,000,000 CFA francs in compensation.
Furthermore, the court ordered SLM to publish a denial of its defamatory allegations on its Facebook page and in a local online newspaper, at its own expense for a period of six (06) months. The Court also ordered that the court decision be published on the defendant's Facebook page for six months, in order to redress the damage to the victims' honor and to inform his followers of the outcome of the proceedings.