The former president of Burkina Faso would like to return to his country. If he received a heavy sentence – life imprisonment – Blaise Compaoré hopes to negotiate his freedom.
In the end, everything went very quickly, despite the coup in Burkina Faso. Indeed, the trial of those responsible for the murder of Thomas Sankara resumed on February 2 and ended a few weeks later. The prosecution then requested thirty years in prison against former President Blaise Compaoré, among others. The latter was not present at the time of the announcement of his conviction - at the beginning of April, the former president of Burkina Faso was sentenced to life imprisonment —, no more than during his trial.
Because Compaoré lives happy days a little more than a thousand kilometers from Ouagadougou. It is in Côte d'Ivoire that the president accused of having had Sankara assassinated has put down his suitcases, protected by his friend, the head of state Alassane Ouattara. The latter believes that “Côte d'Ivoire is a country of hospitality” and that Blaise Compaoré “is at home in Côte d'Ivoire”.
It is however without shame that Compaoré indicated that he wanted to return to his country. In reality, it has been several months since negotiations began between the Ivorian and Burkina authorities. "I had started the process with President Kaboré for the return of Blaise Compaoré, I think that all this will be done in due time", indicated "ADO". In other words, these steps have not yet succeeded, and have fallen behind with the putsch.
But how does Compaoré wish to return to the country, even though he has been condemned for "attack on state security" and "complicity in assassination" by the military court of Ouagadougou? A passage through the prison box could be envisaged in the event of a return to Burkina Faso. Except that Compaoré believes that he has the right to return to his native land… free!
The Sankara family opposed to a pardon
Compaoré has an asset to play: he will not return without guarantees. Especially since he will never be extradited by Alassane Ouattara, who promised him. To ensure that this promise is kept, Blaise Compaoré obtained Ivorian nationality.
Another card to play: his state of health. Compaoré is currently ill. Impossible, for the moment, to know what he really has - he underwent an operation in a Gulf country last year -, but it could well be that Compaoré is unfit to be detained in a jail. House arrest could, however, be an option if the Ouagadougou authorities agree.
It remains to be seen why Blaise Compaoré wants to take the risk of returning to a country which sentenced him to life imprisonment and from which he was expelled in 2014. According to relatives of the former head of state, life in Côte d'Ivoire would weigh on him. But to be pardoned, it will take time. However, Compaoré is old and would like the process to go as quickly as possible.
On the side of Damiba and the military junta in place, reconciliation today is a real political will. Allowing Compaoré to return to Ouagadougou could therefore be the subject of negotiations that would send a strong political message. Still, the pro-Sankara – and there are many of them – would take a dim view of a presidential pardon.
Be that as it may, Compaoré promises that he will no longer play a political role in Burkina Faso. But the family of Thomas Sankara will fiercely oppose a free return of the assassin of the hero of the nation.