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France on Friday authorized the extradition of François Compaoré, the brother of the former president of Burkina Faso, to his country of origin where he is wanted for the murder of a prominent journalist.
The Council of State, France’s highest court for matters involving public administrations, dismissed an appeal by Compaoré’s lawyers against an earlier extradition decision, saying there was no constitutional or other reason to overturn decision.
Compaoré is the younger brother of Blaise Compaoré, who was ousted in a popular uprising in 2014 – after 27 years in power that began with a coup d’état – and went into exile in Côte d’Ivoire.
The murdered journalist was Norbert Zongo, editor of the weekly L’Indépendant and investigative reporter. His charred body was found on December 13, 1998, with three colleagues killed in a burned-out car on a road south of the capital Ouagadougou.
The killings sparked mass protests in Burkina Faso and drew international condemnation.
Initially, only one suspect, Marcel Kafando, a member of the presidential guard, was charged with the murder and then acquitted.
Zongo was investigating the death of David Ouedraogo, François Compaoré’s driver.
Burkina Faso closed the investigation after releasing the guard, but justice reopened the case after the dismissal of Blaise Compaoré.
An independent investigation ordered by the next government concluded that the assassination was linked to the professional activities of the journalist who used to uncover irregularities in the Compaoré regime.
Zongo’s family and many others have demanded justice for the murdered journalist. By ISSOUF SANOGO (AFP) Six suspects, all members of the presidential guard, have been identified by independent investigators and three have been charged.
Burkinabè justice suspects François Compaoré of having ordered the coup, although he has so far not been charged with any crime.
French police arrested him at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris in October 2017 following an international arrest warrant issued by his country’s government. In 2020, Burkina Faso made an agreement with France for his extradition.
Compaoré’s lawyers said on Friday that their client was ready to face the justice system in his country “with dignity, honor and responsibility”.
But they added in a statement sent to AFP that he believed that the extradition was politically motivated, and that the Council had not taken into account the risk of torture, inhuman treatment and unfair trial ahead.
“He would certainly be exposed to such risks if handed over to Burkina Faso,” they said.
Compaoré appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in hopes of stopping the extradition, they said.
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