The prosecutor's office of the antiterrorism pole in Burkina Faso has launched six judicial proceedings against 45 individuals and entities. These proceedings are for various offenses related to terrorism and breaches of public order. The individuals and entities implicated include several high-profile figures, such as Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, François Compaoré, and Ivorian activist Camille Makosso.
According to the prosecutor general of the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal, Désiré Sawadogo, the proceedings involve offenses such as complicity in terrorist associations, apologies for terrorism, dissemination of terrorist content, and financing of terrorism. Other offenses include defamation, attempts to demoralize national armed forces, and disrespect towards public authorities. Most of those implicated reside outside the country's borders.
International arrest warrants and extradition requests have been issued for several individuals, including Dabo Abdoul Aziz, Bari Abdoulaye, and Bassolé Yipéné Djibril. They are being pursued for complicity in terrorist associations, possession of firearms and ammunition for terrorist purposes, and financing of terrorism. Other individuals, such as Coulibaly Oumar and Touré Naïm, face charges of complicity in associations and apologies for terrorism.
Additional individuals are subject to international arrest warrants, including Zoungrana François, Zongo Hermann, and Colonel Zalla Landio Mamadou. They are accused of complicity in financing terrorism, associations with terrorist groups, and possession of firearms and ammunition for terrorist purposes. Alizèta Ouédraogo faces charges of financing terrorism and complicity in terrorist associations, while Conombo Alassane is accused of apologies for terrorism and dissemination of terrorist content.
Beyond these proceedings, several other individuals and entities are subject to ongoing judicial investigations. These include Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, François Compaoré, Yacouba Ladji Bama, Aminata Rachow, and Camille Makosso. The Ivorian activist, Makosso, faces charges of apologies for terrorism and complicity in terrorist associations. The prosecutor general expressed expectations for international cooperation in prosecuting those residing outside Burkina Faso.
The Burkinabè judicial authorities have also requested that Meta, the platform behind Facebook, identify and prosecute administrators of certain pages accused of promoting terrorism. The goal is to have these pages removed and their administrators held accountable. Pages targeted include Burkina Débat, Mayouré de Paspanga, and Mouton d’ADO l’Original, among others.
The Burkinabè government's efforts to combat terrorism involve both national and international cooperation. The authorities are working to bring those accused to justice, whether through domestic prosecution or international extradition. This initiative underscores the country's commitment to addressing the threat of terrorism and promoting public safety.
Key points
- The Burkinabè prosecutor's office has initiated six judicial proceedings against 45 individuals and entities for various terrorism-related offenses.
- International arrest warrants and extradition requests have been issued for several individuals implicated in the proceedings.
- The authorities have also sought cooperation from Meta to identify and prosecute administrators of pages accused of promoting terrorism.
