Glimmer of hope in Norbert Zongo murder case in Burkina Faso
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 14 December 2015 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Glimmer of hope in Norbert Zongo murder case in Burkina Faso, 14 December 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/567277071f7.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
New York December 14, 2015 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the arrests on Saturday of three people in Burkina Faso in connection with the 1998 murder of Norbert Zongo, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper L'Independant.
Thousands of people demonstrate on December 13, 2014, in Ouagadougou to pay homage to murdered journalist Norbert Zongo. (AFP/Ouoba Ahmed)
Three soldiers, members of the recently disbanded presidential guard, have been charged in connection with the murder, according to news reports. Zongo, whose bullet-ridden body was found next to his burned out car on December 13, 1998, had reported on allegations that the brother of then-President Blaise Compaore had been complicit in the death of his chauffeur.
"We praise Burkinabe authorities for taking this step and call on them to ensure that the mastermind of this murder is identified and prosecuted," said CPJ's Africa program coordinator, Sue Valentine. "After 17 long years, the family, friends, and colleagues of Norbert Zongo deserve a thorough and transparent investigation leading to full justice."
Previous efforts to identify and prosecute Zongo's killers were frustrated by pressure from Compaore's government, including the harassment of journalists and activists, CPJ research shows.
Compaore relinquished his 27-year grip on power in November 2014 in the face of widespread public protests that followed his attempts to extend his rule, news reports said. Last month, Burkina Faso held its most democratic elections, according to news reports, electing a former prime minister, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, as the country's new president.
