Burkina: Pascal Zaida, figure of civil society, arrested after criticism of security policy
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, president of Burkina Faso, in Ouagadougou, July 1, 2021. AFP - OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Burkina Faso, one of the figures of civil society is behind bars.
Pascal Zaida is the president of the Coordination of Civil Society Organizations for the Fatherland, the COP.
He was arrested in front of his home on Friday August 13 and taken into police custody.
He is accused of attempting to undermine state security and of subversive declaration after remarks he had made the day before at a press conference of his association.
Publicity
Read more
During a press conference, Pascal Zaida criticized President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré's response to attacks by jihadist groups in the country and denounced a rise in the prices of essential products. "
The objective conditions for social turmoil are met ... If nothing is done there will be an uprising against power,
" he told reporters.
The Anti-Criminal Squad then came to arrest him in front of his house so that he could be heard on these comments.
This is in any case what reports Marcel Tankano, the spokesperson for his NGO, the COP, who denounces an arbitrary arrest, an attack on freedom of expression and who calls for the immediate release of his colleague.
According to him, Pascal Zaida is still in custody this Saturday evening, August 14, pending a decision from the prosecutor.
"
We are in a difficult security context, he will have to give explanations to justice,
" said Burkina Faso's Minister of Security, Maxime Koné, adding that any Burkinabé is free to give his opinion, but that everyone must be able to be held responsible for what they say and give their sources.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Burkina Faso
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré