Blaise Compaore charged with Thomas Sankara's murder, UN lightly condemns latest Burkina Faso coup

Ex-leader of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, is on trial for the 1987 murder of Thomas Sankara, a revered revolutionary leader. Sankara's death coincided with a coup that installed Compaore in power for 27 years. 

Former president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, faces a lengthy prison sentence if he is found guilty of the murder of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara, after military prosecutors called for 30 years in prison for the crime. 

Compaore's trial, which began in October, comes as the West African country reels from its latest military coup last month, brought on by protests and public anger over jihadist attacks in the country. 

Prosecutors asked a court to find Compaore, who is currently in exile in Côte d’Ivoire, guilty of an "attack on state security," "concealment of a corpse" and "complicity in a murder." They accuse the Compaore of being the mastermind of the killing. 

Sankara has long been revered among African revolutionaries. He was a 33-year-old army captain, when he came to power in a coup in 1983. 

A fiery Marxist-Leninist, he was a strong voice against imperialism and colonialism, often at odds with Western leaders at the time. Advocating for radical reforms to help the poor, he was known as the "Che Guevara of Africa."  

Sankara and 12 of his associates were gunned down by a hit squad on October 15, 1987, during a meeting. 

Some 14 people stand accused in the trial, with 12 of them appearing in court. Prosecutors have requested 30 years in jail for the commander of Compaore's presidential guard, Hyacinth Kafando, who is accused of having led the hit squad.       

A 20-year sentence is also sought for Gilbert Diendere, one of the commanders of the army during the 1987 coup, who is already serving a 20-year sentence over a separate attempted military coup in 2015. 

The assassination coincided with a coup that brought Compaore, who was Sankara's former comrade-in-arms, to power. 

Compaore went on to rule the country for 27 years before being deposed by a popular uprising in 2014 and subsequently going into exile. 

Prosper Farama, the Sankara family lawyer said the trial's upcoming resolution was providing some relief to the families affected by the killing, but he bemoaned that "during this trial, no one confessed or repented. No one!" 

"We ask the court to give the families justice," Farama said. "We don't want revenge, we're simply asking for justice," he added. 

While Burkina Faso reels from its latest upheaval and supporters of the new junta bay for Compaore's blood, the world, and the U.N has finally decided to weigh in. 

The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" Wednesday over Burkina Faso's "unconstitutional change of government" last month but chose not to describe it as a military coup or even condemn it outright.  

After negotiations diplomatic sources called difficult, the council unanimously adopted their formal declaration, which "took note" of Burkina Faso's suspension from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union "until there is swift and effective restoration of constitutional order by the military authorities."  

An earlier version of the document, which AFP obtained, called on the junta to "facilitate the rapid return of constitutional order" in Burkina Faso, but that request was removed by Russia, according to a diplomat who requested to remain anonymous.  

In the adopted declaration, the 15-member Security Council does however call for the "release and protection of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and other government officials."  

It also expressed support for the "regional mediation efforts" to resolve the crisis, after the recent launch of a joint mission to Burkina Faso by ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations' office for West Africa.  

While UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres quickly and harshly condemned the military coup in January, the Security Council decided to wait for ECOWAS and the African Union to announce their formal positions.  

After an emergency meeting last Thursday in Ghana, ECOWAS decided not to impose sanctions against Burkina Faso, but demanded the new leaders present a timetable for the "reasonable return to constitutional order."  

Burkina Faso's new strongman, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, issued a presidential decree Saturday to create a commission tasked with planning a new national charter and laying out a timetable for the transition .

(AFP and staff writer)