He, who was usually behind the microphone to defend his clients, appears this time on a plastic banner, in front of an empty chair.
“Release Me Guy Hervé Kam and all the kidnapped citizens,” we can read next to his photo.
A month after the arrest of this famous lawyer, who was notably the defender of the family of ex-president Thomas Sankara, the supporters of his SENS movement (Serve and not serve oneself) have once again condemned his "sequestration arbitrary", during a press conference organized on February 26 in Ouagadougou.
“Master Guy Hervé Kam has always been on the side of the victims of arbitrariness. Is that why he was kidnapped?”
questions Idrissa Barry, secretary general of Sens, recalling that the authorities have still not taken legal action.
Despite the armada of lawyers who support him, the case of Guy Hervé Kam, like all the other kidnappings and forced requisitions in the country, seems hopeless.
Thanks to a general mobilization decree signed in April 2023 for a period of one year, Burkinabe transitional president Ibrahim Traoré can in fact requisition citizens to participate in the country's war against suspected terrorists.
Since then, more and more critics of power have disappeared and found themselves on the front lines.
Suspension of requisitions
Kidnapped on the night of January 24 to 25 at Ouagadougou airport by individuals in civilian clothes, Guy Hervé Kam - also co-founder of the Balai Citoyen movement, an organization known for standing up to the powers in place - was then taken to the Sûreté national, where he is still detained.
Strongly condemning the arrest of their colleague, the Union of Lawyers of Burkina Faso (SYNAF) then observed a day of strike on February 15.
“Without anything moving on the authorities’ side,” deplores one of the members, who wished to remain anonymous.
“The case of Master Kam is a hostage-taking that does not speak its name,” denounces a member of civil society, for whom justice, powerless, remains limited in its actions.
“We will file new complaints and new appeals,” assures one of Guy Hervé Kam’s lawyers to France 24.
A few weeks before his arrest, on December 6, Guy Hervé Kam had succeeded, with a group of lawyers, in having a requisition order which targeted Issaka Lingani, journalist, and two Balai Citoyen activists suspended by the Ouagadougou Administrative Court. , Bassirou Badjo and Rasmane Zinaba.
After several hearings denouncing a “misuse of power”, they won their case.
Read alsoBurkina Faso: a first legal victory bringing hope for requisitioned civilians
The latter had seen their names appear on a list of twelve personalities targeted by forceful recruitment.
Among them: Ablassé Ouedraogo, former minister and president of the Le Faso Autre party, or Daouda Diallo, secretary general of the Collective against impunity and stigmatization of communities (CISC).
Kidnapped and sent three days later to the front
The common point between these twelve personalities was to have denounced restrictions on freedoms and openly criticized the regime of Ibrahim Traoré, accused of authoritarian excesses.
“Sanction requisitions or punishment requisitions are a way to suppress dissenting voices” declared Rasmane Zinaba on a television set on November 6.
He then remained rather discreet, until his recent disappearance.
On February 20 and 21, Rasmane Zinaba and Bassirou Badjo were arrested and taken to an unknown destination, outside of any legal framework.
“The authorities do not need requisitions, nor bother with appeals. It is better to kidnap people directly, it’s simpler,” quips a member of SYNAF, interviewed by France 24.
“Three individuals in civilian clothes and armed came to Rasmane Zinaba's house around 6 a.m. They knocked insistently, until he opened the door for them,” says Ollo Mathias Kambou, another member of Balai Citoyen.
"They took him away, and since then, we have had no news of him. We don't know where he is, who took him or why. It's despicable" he confides to France24.
Can Rasmane Zinaba and Bassirou Badjo reappear in Volunteer for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP, civilian auxiliaries of the army) outfit, in fatigues and with a weapon in their hand, in images posted on social networks?
This is what happened to Daouda Diallo and Ablassé Ouedraogo - respectively kidnapped on December 1 and 24, 2023. Three days after his arrest, a photo of Daouda Diallo was released, on which we see the human rights defender, the looking haggard, in military uniform in the back of a pickup, Kalashnikov on his knees.
Reinforced controls when leaving the country
In a press release released after the disappearances of Rasmane Zinaba and Bassirou Badjo, the Balai Citoyen "calls national and international opinion to bear witness to the arbitrariness, intimidation and death threats to which its activists have been subjected since the "advent of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR)" and called on the authorities "to assume their role" in the face of a "practice that has become commonplace".
When contacted, the transitional authorities did not respond to requests from France 24.
“We will no longer have feelings. Anyone who betrays their homeland for the benefit of imperialism will be treated as such,” threatened Ibrahim Traoré on February 17, standing in the middle of the Ouaga 2000 stadium filled with his supporters.
Addressing part of the active forces, the young putschist once again warned those who oppose “his fight against imperialism.”
Some people targeted by the requisitions did not hesitate to leave the country.
An option which, however, risks becoming complicated in the future.
On February 22, the deputies of the Transitional Legislative Assembly adopted a bill toughening the conditions of entry and exit from the country, including for nationals, and particularly for public officials.
The France 24 summary of the week
invites you to look back at the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application