By RFIPosted on 14-12-2019Changed on 14-12-2019 at 02:11

In Burkina Faso, it has been twenty-one years since the investigative journalist Norbert Zongo and the three people who accompanied him have been murdered a hundred kilometers south of Ouagadougou. The extradition decree of François Compaoré, younger brother of Blaise Compaoré suspected in this case, will soon be signed according to the French ambassador in Ouagadougou.

Like every year, human rights organizations and journalists demonstrated again. Laying of wreaths on the graves. Gathering at the Labor Exchange with the same slogan since the assassination of the journalist and his companions: " Truth and justice ".

The judicial authorities of Burkina had obtained from French justice a decision favorable to the extradition of the younger brother of the former president, who is suspected of being involved in the assassination of the journalist. Norbert Zongo was investigating the assassination of his driver, David Ouedraogo.

The collective fighting against impunity since 1998 demands today that France clarify its position on the extradition of François Compaoré, younger brother of the ex-president of Burkina Faso. We ask to clarify ourselves and above all to reassure us as to the effectiveness of this extradition of François Compaoré, one of the last locks to be blown up to make leaps forward in the examination of this file which only lasted so long "Summarizes Chrisogone Zougmorré, president of the collective.

We have the feeling that French justice has done its job. On the other hand, we have the feeling that the French government is dragging its feet to take François Compaoré's extradition decree. [...] The Burkinabè jutsice proved its capacities to judge this affair with impartiality

Abdoulaye Diallo, from the Norbert Zongo National Press Center

12-14-2019 - By Michel Arseneault

"Legal guarantees"

It was on October 29, 2017 that François Compaoré's showdown with French justice began. On that day, he was arrested in Paris on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by Ouagadougou. For nearly two years, his lawyers multiplied the procedures to contest this warrant and the request for extradition. But finally, on June 4, the Court of Cassation, the highest judicial court, validated the extradition. The green light for justice is given, the hand then passes to the executive, because it is the Prime Minister who signs the extradition decrees. However, six months later, they are numerous in Burkina and in the first place the prosecutor of Faso to wonder about what could block. Especially since at the end of 2017, President Macron had declared in Ouagadougou that he would do “ everything to facilitate ” this extradition.

Luc Hallade, the French ambassador to Burkina Faso, ensures that François Compaoré's extradition decree will soon be issued. He said this to a delegation of professional media organizations who went to the diplomatic representation to express his indignation at the slowness in handling the file on the French side. " This extradition decree will be issued in accordance with what the justice system has decided. We simply give ourselves some legal guarantees that this decree can be executed in the best conditions. "

According to the French diplomat, part of his mandate in Burkina Faso is to ensure that this issue of François Compaoré's extradition is resolved as soon as possible.

But even if this decree is finally signed, there will still be recourse to François Compaoré: to seize the Council of State, the highest French administrative jurisdiction this time. Its role: to verify that the decree complies with French law and the European Convention on Human Rights. He can thus decide to cancel it, for example, if the person concerned risks the death penalty. The abolition of the death penalty in May 2018 in Burkina Faso was thus read by some as a preemptive measure to avoid this pitfall. Another possible reason for cancellation is if the Council of State considers that the extradition request is politically motivated. An argument that François Compaoré's lawyers are already hammering and therefore would not fail to use.

→ Listen again News calls: [Your reactions] Will we one day know the truth about the death of Norbert Zongo?

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