Date set for ex-Burkinabe leader trial over Sankara assassination

Bujumbura- Burkina Faso’s former president, Blaise Compaoré, will stand trial starting November 2016 over alleged assassination of Thomas Sankara, sources said.

A commissioner of the tribunal, Alioune Zanre told journalists last week that 13 others will also face trial in connection with the crime.

Following his ouster from leadership, the Burkinabe military tribunal issued a warrant of arrest against Mr Compaoré in connection with the assassination of his predecessor.
He has since obtained an Ivorian citizenship.

On his part, the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has expressed fears that the former Burkinabe leader could be found guilty and killed by the military tribunal.

Early this week, Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Kaboré expressed the wish of seeing his predecessor’s face trial “sooner or later”.

As part of the investigation, the military tribunal indicted 13 other suspects in connection with the assassination of Thomas Sankara in 1987.

Seven are in custody, four have not been detained while two others are still on the run.

The two are Blaise Compaore and Hyacinte Kafando, his chief bodyguard at the time of Sankara’s death.

Fifty-two witnesses and thirteen civil parties are expected at the trial.

About campaore

Blaise Compaoré (born 3 February 1951)was president of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014. He was a top associate of President Thomas Sankara during the 1980s, and in October 1987, he led a coup d’état during which Sankara was killed. He won elections in 1991, 1998, 2005, and 2010 in questionable circumstances. His attempt to amend the constitution to extend his 27-year term caused the 2014 Burkinabé uprising. On 31 October 2014, Compaoré resigned, whereupon he fled to the Ivory Coast.