Recent news highlights an important decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concerning the extradition of François Compaoré, younger brother of the former president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré. On September 7, 2023, the ECHR ruled against his extradition to Burkina Faso, where he is being prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the assassination of investigative journalist Norbert Zongo in 1998.
The ECHR argues that France should not implement its extradition decree dating from 2020 without taking into account the new political context in Burkina Faso. Indeed, the country experienced two military coups in 2022, which significantly changed the political situation. The assurances provided by the Burkinabè government at the time of the extradition request were not reiterated by the second transitional government, which could constitute a risk of violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. man prohibiting inhuman or degrading punishments.
This decision by the ECHR was welcomed by François Compaoré’s lawyers, who say their client would risk torture and degrading detention if he were extradited. They also underline the crucial role of France in this affair by avoiding sending François Compaoré to a Burkinabe prison, which would have been humiliating and dehumanizing.
However, some voices are being raised in Burkina Faso to denounce this decision of the ECHR. Inoussa Ouedraogo, president of the society of private press publishers, asks the transitional government to create the conditions to extradite François Compaoré and deplores the lack of transparency in this affair.
It is important to remember that François Compaoré is accused of incitement to murder as part of the investigation into the death of Norbert Zongo and three other people. Since his arrest in 2017, he has been detained in France under an international arrest warrant issued by Burkina Faso.
The François Compaoré affair highlights the complexity of issues of extradition and respect for human rights. The ECHR’s decision underlines the importance of regularly reviewing the guarantees provided by requesting countries, especially in a changing political context. This case also sparks debates around France’s responsibility in protecting the fundamental rights of those who are prosecuted in other countries.
It remains to be seen how France will react to this ECHR decision and how the François Compaoré affair will evolve in the months to come. The balance between justice and respect for human rights will continue to be at the heart of the debates.