Burkinabes take to the streets to demand the release of ex- minister

About 5,000 demonstrators descended on the streets of Reo a city located in the north western part of the country demanding for the release of Djibril Bassolé, a former powerful minister during former President Blaise Compaoré‘s reign.

Bassolé,who headed the foreign affairs docket, was arrested on September 29 last year after being accused of supporting a failed coup in the west African country.

The government accused Bassolé of joining forces with an army General, Gilbert Diendere and alleged the two to have sought help from foreign forces.

He was charged with treason, attack on state security and complicity to murder, primarily on the basis of a leaked telephone conversation he allegedly had with Ivory Coast’s parliamentary president Guillaume Soro.

In the discussion, the two men were heard plotting the failed coup that was carried out by presidential guards loyal to Blaise Compaoré on September 16.

Bassolé, a high-level diplomat was born in Reo and has long been a part of hostage negotiations in West Africa and also served as the UN special representative in Sudan’s Darfur region.

He has requested the United Nations Commission on arbitrary detentions to examine his case.
AFP