Norbert Zongo case: François Compaoré soon fixed on his possible extradition
François Compaoré, brother of former Burkinabè President Blaise Compaoré.
(Illustrative image) Ahmed OUOBA / AFP
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5 mins
Although France authorized the extradition of François Compaoré in February, the brother of the former president has still not returned to Burkina Faso.
His lawyers have filed an appeal with the Council of State.
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It has been 22 years this Sunday, December 13 that
Norbert Zongo
was assassinated in Sapouy, in central-eastern Burkina Faso.
This journalist was then investigating the death of David Ouedraogo, the driver of François Compaoré, brother of former president Blaise Compaoré.
After years of stagnation, the Zongo affair gained new life after the 2014 revolution.
The appeal of the defense of François Compaoré will be examined on December 18 at the French Council of State.
For his lawyers, his extradition is illegal.
The defense advances several arguments.
First, François Compaoré has never been charged in Burkina Faso.
Second, his safety and that of his advice cannot be guaranteed.
Finally, they question the impartiality of the French Prime Minister who issued the extradition decree, since during his visit to Ouagadougou several years earlier, President Emmanuel Macron had already announced this procedure.
"
We have elements which prove that this affair is political
", explains Maître François Henri Briard, lawyer of François Compaoré associated with the Council of State.
We have corroborating and convincing indications which show that this request is purely political.
However, it is a fundamental principle of international law, we do not extradite nationals for political reasons.
Finally, we have a third series of means which stem from the absence of effective guarantees of protection, whether it concerns the judgment of Mr. Compaoré in Burkina Faso or his possible conditions of detention and here we are on the subject. ground of inhuman and degrading treatment which would inevitably be inflicted on him if he returned to his country of origin
Francois Henri Briard
“
On the other hand, after the re-election of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the time has come for reconciliation,
” concludes Pierre-Olivier Sur, another lawyer for François Compaoré.
An argument swept aside by Robert Zongo, brother of the journalist, 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 remedies, they will give it back to us.
Today,
[ex-]
President Blaise Compaoré is knocking on the door to return to the fold, François Compaoré should nevertheless copy his brother's example.
We only ask to listen to François Compaoré.
We are going to be reconciled, but we cannot skip the steps, we cannot 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.
"
Master Prosper Fatama, lawyer for the family, believes that "
reconciliation should not punish impunity
".
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Burkina Faso
Blaise Compaore
France
Justice
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