Sankara assassination trial: General Diendéré maintained his version of the facts
Burkinabe general Gilbert Diendéré during the trial for the assassination of Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, November 11, 2021. © OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
General Diendéré was appearing at the trial of the alleged assassins of Thomas Sankara and his collaborators.
The hearing of the former chief of staff of Blaise Compaoré ended Thursday, November 11.
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With our special
correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Gaëlle Laleix
For once, they all agree.
According to the lawyers for the civil parties and the defense, the hearing of General Diendéré bore fruit.
The first believe they have highlighted the inconsistencies in his story, the second to have finally enlightened the court on the reality of the facts.
For three days, Gilbert Diendéré told, dissected, reconstituted, the events of his day of October 15, 1987. For his lawyer, Me Paul Kéré, whatever the end by which this story is taken, the facts are clear.
“
From the moment when General Diendéré never pulled the trigger, things are clear.
The attackers came from outside.
We don't need to go to law school to know that when we are not responsible, we are not responsible
, exclaims Me Kéré.
Complicity supposes help, assistance or even omission.
But in this case, he himself was surprised
.
If he had come with his elements, he too would have been a victim.
Fortunately he was in a tracksuit.
Fortunately he was not armed.
These are the things
!
"
► To read also: Trial of the assassination of Sankara: General Diendéré questioned on the response to the attack
"The failures did not come from me"
Standing at the bar, in his leopard outfit from the former presidential security regiment (RSP), dissolved in 2015, after his failed coup, Gilbert Diendéré did not weaken.
“
The RSP outfit was worn to go to the front
,” he explains, “
I found it appropriate.
"
Assured, sometimes mocking, the general has often imposed his rhythm on the debates.
Until weariness made him concede to the prosecution, lip service, a "
heartache
" for having witnessed such an event in his own barracks.
“
I admit there was a problem,
but I didn't totally fail.
The failures did not come from me.
"
“
Our client had the opportunity to defeat certain fantasies,
Mr. Abdoul Latif Dabo was satisfied at the end of the last hearing
.
People need to take their blinders off and look at the facts in a cold way.
"
This staging does not worry the prosecution.
“
We are astonished that the general, who has clothes for other facts, wants to present himself as the one who is ready to go into battle.
This attitude reveals that he has no remorse and that is sad,
considers Me Ambroise Farama, lawyer for the Sankara family.
He thinks he can get away with it, but we are confident that the witnesses next week will further confuse him.
"
The trial will resume on Monday, November 15.
Three defendants have yet to be heard by the court.
► To read also: Webdocumentary - Who had Sankara killed?
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Burkina Faso
Justice
Gilbert Diendere
Thomas sankara