Burkina: ex-president Blaise Compaoré in his country after 8 years of exile

The former president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, returned Thursday to his country for the first time since he was driven out in 2014 by a popular insurrection and pushed into exile in Côte d'Ivoire.

Burkina: ex-president Blaise Compaoré in his country after 8 years of exile

The former president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, returned Thursday to his country for the first time since he was driven out in 2014 by a popular insurrection and pushed into exile in Côte d'Ivoire.

Mr. Compaoré, 71, who was traveling from Abidjan in a plane made available to him by the Ivorian presidency, landed at the Ouagadougou military base shortly before 2:00 p.m. (GMT and local).

This is the first time that the former president has set foot on his country's soil since he was forced into exile in Côte d'Ivoire in October 2014, after violent popular riots which broke out against his will. remain in power after 27 years of rule.

However, it is not a question of a definitive return, but of a stay of a few days at the invitation of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the new strong man of Burkina, author of a coup d'etat in January which overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

Like the former Burkinabè presidents still alive, Mr. Compaoré must participate in a meeting to "accelerate national reconciliation" in the face of the jihadist attacks which have bloodied Burkina Faso since 2015 and have multiplied in recent months.

At Ouagadougou airport, where dozens of supporters hoped to see the ex-president, banners and portraits were held up to welcome this return.

“We came to welcome him and show him our respect. It's a great day for us, it's a new story that is being written from today," Alida, a 36-year-old teacher who came from the native village of former head of state, Ziniaré, about thirty kilometers from the capital.

Amidou Kaboré, trader, abounds: “today the very existence of the country is threatened and Blaise will be able to contribute to the restoration” of peace.

In power since his putsch on January 24, Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba is trying to create a "sacred union" around him to help him in the fight against the jihadist groups that have bloodied Burkina Faso since 2015 and whose attacks are increasingly deadliest have multiplied in recent weeks.

Friday's meeting between the heads of state is notably organized to "pool energies and synergies (...) to fight effectively against the tragedy that strikes us", according to the government spokesperson.

"Forfeit"

In addition to Blaise Compaoré, president from 1987 to 2014, are also invited Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo (1982-1983), Isaac Zida who briefly took power in 2014 and is currently in exile in Canada, Michel Kafando (2014-2015) and Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, elected in 2015 and overthrown in January.

But the return of Blaise Compaoré is not unanimous in Burkina Faso.

On April 6, he was sentenced in absentia in Burkina to life imprisonment for his role in the assassination of his predecessor Thomas Sankara, during a coup that brought him to power in 1987.

“It would be a forfeiture if Blaise Compaoré came to Burkina Faso and left cheerfully. This would mean that in our country, there is no longer any justice or law,” said Bénéwende Stanislas Sankara, one of the lawyers for the Sankara family.

Researcher Ra-Sablga Seydou Ouédraogo, director of the think tank Free Afrik, believes that “reconciliation cannot be a reward for impunity. How does the consecration of impunity serve the fight against terrorism?

“This important meeting for the life of the Nation does not hinder the legal proceedings initiated against some”, had for its part indicated the presidency, Wednesday.

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