Bangladesh, Oct. 1 -- For years, land and housing have stood at the center of political tension in Burkina Faso. The West African country, already plagued by insecurity, poverty, and displacement caused by conflict, is also experiencing a worsening housing crisis. But instead of addressing the urgent need for affordable homes, evidence now shows that politicians and their allies may have profited from a system rife with abuse, speculation, and land grabbing.

A parliamentary report completed in 2020, recently obtained by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), has revealed extensive irregularities in the countrys real estate sector. Yet the findings were never released to the public. According to anti-corruption acti...