Press release
François Compaoré, brother of the ex-dictator of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, who was ousted by the people during a tremendous popular insurrection, has given an interview to the African weekly Jeune Afrique n°2959 24 September 2017, in which he taunts the Burkinabe people.
François Compaoré is being investigated in connection with the 1998 murder of the journalist Norbert Zongo, just as popular with the Burkinabe as Thomas Sankara. An international warrant has been issued for his arrest, this means, that according to international agreements, he should be arrested as soon as he sets foot in France.
In the interview, made in France, he does not hide the fact that he is currently living in France.
The current French Government continues, as the previous French government did, to protect the Campaoré family. Blaise Campaoré was ex-filtrated from Burkina Faso to Côte d’Ivoire by troops of the French Special Operations Command (COS). The Ivoirian authorities, also great friends of France, refused his extradition.
As the visit by French President Emmanual Macron to Burkina Faso in November approaches, this interview is considered, by the people of Burkina Faso, to be a provocation and risks causing serious embarrassment. Thr Burkinabe thirst for justice and are impatient to see the leaders of the former Blaise Campaore regime stand trial. Achieving truth and justice on the assassination of Thomas Sankara and Norbert Zongo are sensitive issues to the Burkinabe people
The French State must stop protecting the Capaoré family. It should immediately arrest Francois Campaore and press the Ivoirian authorities to extradite Blaise Campaoré to Burkina Faso. One cannot claim to be the land of Human Rights and at the same time protect criminals.
The 15 October 2017 is the thirtieth anniversary of the assassination of Thomas Sankara. On this occasion we call on the French authorities to respect their engagements and satisfy the request of the Burkinabe judge who is inquiring into the Thomas Sankara affair, that is, to create a rogatory commission and lift the “State secret” privilege.
Signed at Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Dori, Bamako, Paris, Brussels, Ottawa, Berlin, Turin, Montpellier, Ajaccio, Barcelona, Las Palmas on 9 October 2017.
The International network « Justice pour Thomas Sankara justice pour l’Afrique (justice for Thomas Sankara justice for Africa)»
Contact : contactjusticepoursankara@gmail.com
