Burkinabe Ex-President Compaore Charged In Thomas Sankara Murder

A military court in Burkina Faso’s capital has indicted former
President Blaise Compaore in connection to the 1987 murder of his
charismatic predecessor, Thomas Sankara.

A statement issued by the court on Tuesday cited “complicity in
assassination” and an “attack on state security” by Compaore, who
ruled the country until 2014, when he was forced to resign in the
face of mass demonstrations against an attempt to extend his
27-year rule.

Thirteen others – including Gilbert Diendere, Compaore’s right
hand man, and Hyacinthe Kafando, his security chief – were also
indicted on charges ranging from “assassination” to “concealment of
corpses”.

Benewende Stanislas Sankara, a lawyer representing the relatives
of the slain former president, described the indictment as “a
victory and a step in the right direction”.

“It’s with a sigh of relief the family can now go ahead with all
the guarantees that surround Burkinabe justice,” he told Al
Jazeera. “We can now calmly go to trial.”

Burkina Faso’s communications minister said an official
government statement on the indictment will likely be issued on
Wednesday. Eddie Komboigo, leader of the Compaore-founded Congress
for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party, declined to comment on the
court’s announcement.

Compaore, who has been in exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast
since 2014, has always denied involvement in Sankara’s
assassination.

Sankara took power in 1983, but he was killed aged 37 along with
12 other government officials during a coup led by Compaore on
October 15, 1987.
Many Burkinabes regard Sankara as a national hero. A prominent
pan-Africanist, he is sometimes also referred to as the continent’s
“Che Guevera”, in reference to the Argentinian Marxist
revolutionary who led a number of armed struggles, including in
Cuba.

In 2015, authorities exhumed what are thought to be Sankara’s
remains from a grave in Dagnoen, on the outskirts of Ouagadougou.
Sankara’s widow said an autopsy revealed his body was “riddled with
more than a dozen bullets”.

To this day, graffiti calling for “Justice for Sankara” is a
common sight throughout the capital.

“It is a matter for the Burkinabe people – and, I have to say,
the African people. So this transcends Thomas Sankara’s family,”
said Benewende Sankara.

‘Decisive step’
Following his re-election last year, President Roch Kabore
appointed a minister for national reconciliation, Zephirin Diabre,
who pledged to address the issue of justice for Sankara.

In 2015, Burkinabe courts had issued an international arrest for
Compaore, but Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has prevented his
extradition back to Burkina Faso despite an extradition treaty
between the two countries.

During his election campaign in the lead-up to the November 2020
polls, Kabore had also said he would be open to Compaore returning
to the country to live out retirement.

A national debate ensued over whether the former president, now
70, should face trial upon his return or be effectively pardoned in
the interests of national reconciliation.

“The warrant can be executed at any time if Cote d’Ivoire and
Burkina Faso implement the existing agreements between the two
states properly,” Benewende Sankara said. “I must specify that it
can happen very quickly.”

Tuesday’s indictment may put further pressure on Ivory Coast to
follow through on the extradition treaty.

It is unclear when the trial will take place.

Sankara’s relatives initially brought the case to the courts in
1997. It was closed soon after, before being reopened by the
country’s then-transitional government in 2015.

“We can say that the Sankara case has now passed all the stages
needed to see judgement,” Lassane Sawadogo, executive secretary of
the ruling People’s Movement for Progress party (MPP) told Al
Jazeera.

“This represents a decisive step forward for the manifestation
of the truth.”

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

A military court in Burkina Faso’s capital has indicted former
President Blaise Compaore in connection to the 1987 murder of his
charismatic predecessor, Thomas Sankara.

A statement issued by the court on Tuesday cited “complicity in
assassination” and an “attack on state security” by Compaore, who
ruled the country until 2014, when he was forced to resign in the
face of mass demonstrations against an attempt to extend his
27-year rule.

Thirteen others – including Gilbert Diendere, Compaore’s right
hand man, and Hyacinthe Kafando, his security chief – were also
indicted on charges ranging from “assassination” to “concealment of
corpses”.

Benewende Stanislas Sankara, a lawyer representing the relatives
of the slain former president, described the indictment as “a
victory and a step in the right direction”.

“It’s with a sigh of relief the family can now go ahead with all
the guarantees that surround Burkinabe justice,” he told Al
Jazeera. “We can now calmly go to trial.”

Burkina Faso’s communications minister said an official
government statement on the indictment will likely be issued on
Wednesday. Eddie Komboigo, leader of the Compaore-founded Congress
for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party, declined to comment on the
court’s announcement.

Compaore, who has been in exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast
since 2014, has always denied involvement in Sankara’s
assassination.

Sankara took power in 1983, but he was killed aged 37 along with
12 other government officials during a coup led by Compaore on
October 15, 1987.
Many Burkinabes regard Sankara as a national hero. A prominent
pan-Africanist, he is sometimes also referred to as the continent’s
“Che Guevera”, in reference to the Argentinian Marxist
revolutionary who led a number of armed struggles, including in
Cuba.

In 2015, authorities exhumed what are thought to be Sankara’s
remains from a grave in Dagnoen, on the outskirts of Ouagadougou.
Sankara’s widow said an autopsy revealed his body was “riddled with
more than a dozen bullets”.

To this day, graffiti calling for “Justice for Sankara” is a
common sight throughout the capital.

“It is a matter for the Burkinabe people – and, I have to say,
the African people. So this transcends Thomas Sankara’s family,”
said Benewende Sankara.

‘Decisive step’
Following his re-election last year, President Roch Kabore
appointed a minister for national reconciliation, Zephirin Diabre,
who pledged to address the issue of justice for Sankara.

In 2015, Burkinabe courts had issued an international arrest for
Compaore, but Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has prevented his
extradition back to Burkina Faso despite an extradition treaty
between the two countries.

During his election campaign in the lead-up to the November 2020
polls, Kabore had also said he would be open to Compaore returning
to the country to live out retirement.

A national debate ensued over whether the former president, now
70, should face trial upon his return or be effectively pardoned in
the interests of national reconciliation.

“The warrant can be executed at any time if Cote d’Ivoire and
Burkina Faso implement the existing agreements between the two
states properly,” Benewende Sankara said. “I must specify that it
can happen very quickly.”

Tuesday’s indictment may put further pressure on Ivory Coast to
follow through on the extradition treaty.

It is unclear when the trial will take place.

Sankara’s relatives initially brought the case to the courts in
1997. It was closed soon after, before being reopened by the
country’s then-transitional government in 2015.

“We can say that the Sankara case has now passed all the stages
needed to see judgement,” Lassane Sawadogo, executive secretary of
the ruling People’s Movement for Progress party (MPP) told Al
Jazeera.

“This represents a decisive step forward for the manifestation
of the truth.”

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA