Although France approved the extradition of François Compaoré in February, the former president’s brother has still not returned to Burkina Faso. His lawyers have appealed to the Prime Minister.
It has been 22 years this Sunday, December 13th Norbert Zongo was assassinated in Sapouy, in east-central Burkina Faso. This journalist then investigated the death of David Ouedraogo, the driver of François Compaoré, brother of former President Blaise Compaoré. After years of stagnation, the Zongo affair was given new life after the 2014 revolution.
François Compaoré’s accusation of defense will be examined on December 18 by the French Prime Minister. For his lawyers, his extradition is illegal. The defense presents several arguments. First, François Compaoré has never been prosecuted in Burkina Faso. Secondly, his safety and his advice cannot be guaranteed. Finally, they question the impartiality of the French Prime Minister who issued the extradition decision, as President Emmanuel Macron had already announced this procedure during his visit to Ouagadougou several years earlier. “We have elements that prove that this affair is political,” explains Maître François Henri Briard, lawyer for François Compaoré, who is associated with the Prime Minister.
We have confirmatory and convincing indications that this request is purely political. However, it is a fundamental principle of international law, we do not extradite citizens for political reasons. Finally, we have a third series of funds stemming from the lack of effective guarantees of protection, whether it is the Compaoré judgment in Burkina Faso or even his possible conditions of detention, and here we are on the subject. grounds for inhuman and degrading treatment which would undoubtedly be imposed on him if he returned to his country of origin
“On the other hand, after the re-election of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, it is time for reconciliation,” concludes Pierre-Olivier Sur, another lawyer for François Compaoré. An argument swept aside by Robert Zongo, the journalist’s brother, who believes “that there can be no reconciliation if the light is not shed on this affair”.
“I tell myself that when they are done with these twisted solutions, they will give it back to us. Today [ex-]President Blaise Compaoré knocks on the door to return to the week, François Compaoré should still copy his brother’s example. We just ask you to listen to François Compaoré. We will be reconciled but we can not skip the stages, we can not go from rooster to donkey. The idea for us is that what happened to Norbert could no longer happen to any Burkinabè worthy of the name. ”
Maître Prosper Fatama, family lawyer, believes that “reconciliation should not punish impunity”.
.
