Salamata SAWADOGO / TAPSOBA is a judge.

Her honours are: Knight of the Order of Merit of Justice and Human Rights (2017- Chevalier de l’ordre du Mérite avec Agrafe Justice et Droits de l’Homme), Distinction received from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2012), Medal of Honour of the Prison Security Guard (2011- Médaille d’honneur de la Garde de Sécurité pénitentiaire), Officer of the National Order (2008), Knight of the National Order (2003), 

Salamata is a founding member of several associations, some of which she has chaired, such as the Association of Women Lawyers of Burkina Faso (AFJ/BF-); l’Association pour mieux vivre ensemble (AMIVIE- Association for Better Communal Living), etc. 

Salamata has held several judicial positions in the courts and tribunals of Burkina Faso. She was an examining magistrate, President of the Labour Court of Ouagadougou, Vice-President of the High Court of Ouagadougou, Judge-Counsellor at the Court of Appeal and member of the Assize Court.  

She also served as Technical Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Tourism and then as Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice for several years. 

Salamata SAWDOGO /TAPSOBA has successively held the positions of Minister in charge of Human Rights and later, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals. In these capacities, she represented Burkina Faso before international, regional and national bodies on judicial and human rights issues. 

In addition to her national duties, Salamata has served as Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), a specialised institution of the AU.

She has been an election observer in Burkina Faso under the aegis of the Civil Society Organisation for the Independent Observation of Elections and in Cameroon on behalf of the OAU (forerunner of the AU).

She has also undertaken academic activities such as a temporary teacher at the National School of Administration and Magistracy (Ecole Nationale d’Administration et de la Magistrature- ENAM) and in the training centres of the National Social Security Fund in Ouagadougou. 

From 2003 to 2007, Mme. SAWADOGO was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Burkina Faso to the Republic of Senegal and 4 other countries in West Africa (Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde).

From October 2013 to March 2018, she was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of South Africa and 13 other countries in Southern Africa.

Since October 2018 to date, she has been the Officer-in-Charge  for the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Civic Promotion. 

Salamata SAWADOGO/TAPSOBA is the author of the following books ;

• ” Appelés à être différents ” (“Called to be different“). editions; African Bible Press (ABP), 2016 ;
• “ Aperçu du Système africain des droits de l’Homme “(Overview of the African Human Rights System) edition l’Harmattan Burkina, 2012;
• “Les droits de l’Homme dans l’entreprise: les protections instituées au Burkina Faso“
• (“Human rights in the workplace: the safeguards in place in Burkina Faso”) in Revue juridique et politique, Indépendance et Coopération, Penant1989 edition.
• Available soon: “L’indépendance de la justice au Burkina Faso, parlons-en” (“The Independence of the Judiciary in Burkina Faso, Let’s Talk”)