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Former president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, faces a prolonged jail sentence if he’s discovered responsible of the homicide of revolutionary chief Thomas Sankara, after navy prosecutors known as for 30 years in jail for the crime.
Compaore’s trial, which started in October, comes because the West African nation reels from its newest navy coup final month, introduced on by protests and public anger over jihadist assaults within the nation.
Prosecutors requested a courtroom to search out Compaore, who’s at the moment in exile in Ivory Coast, responsible of an “assault on state safety,” “concealment of a corpse” and “complicity in a homicide.” They accuse the Compaore of being the mastermind of the killing.
Thomas Sankara was gunned down throughout a gathering together with 12 associates
The ‘Che Guevara of Africa’
Sankara has lengthy been revered amongst African revolutionaries. He was a 33-year-old military captain, when he got here to energy in a coup in 1983.
A fiery Marxist-Leninist, he was a robust voice in opposition to imperialism and colonialism, usually at odds with Western leaders on the time. Advocating for radical reforms to assist the poor, he was referred to as the “Che Guevara of Africa.”
Sankara and 12 of his associates had been gunned down by successful squad on October 15, 1987, throughout a gathering.
Some 14 individuals stand accused within the trial, with 12 of them showing in courtroom. Prosecutors have requested 30 years in jail for the commander of Compaore’s presidential guard, Hyacinth Kafando, who’s accused of getting led the hit squad.
A 20-year sentence can also be looked for Gilbert Diendere, one of many commanders of the military through the 1987 coup, who’s already serving a 20-year sentence over a separate tried navy coup in 2015.
Killing led to Compaore’s rise
The assassination coincided with a coup that introduced Compaore, who was Sankara’s former comrade-in-arms, to energy.
Compaore went on to rule the nation for 27 years earlier than being deposed by a preferred rebellion in 2014 and subsequently going into exile.
Prosper Farama, the Sankara household lawyer stated the trial’s upcoming decision was offering some aid to the households affected by the killing, however he bemoaned that “throughout this trial, nobody confessed or repented. Nobody!”
“We ask the courtroom to provide the households justice,” Farama stated. “We do not need revenge, we’re merely asking for justice,” he added.
jcg/rs (AFP, epd)
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