Burkina Faso: The treatment of the family members of the ousted president Blaise Compaoré and of other people associated with him (2014June-2015)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

President Blaise Compaoré resigned on 31 October 2014 (La Croix 31 Oct. 2014; leFaso.net 31 Oct. 2014; The Guardian 1 Nov. 2014), after 27 years in power (ibid.; La Croix 31 Oct. 2014). Sources indicate that he made the announcement after violent public demonstrations during which demonstrators set fire to the parliament building (BBC 1 Nov. 2014; The New York Times 1 Nov. 2014). According to the New York Times, they also set fire to the homes of President Compaoré's relatives and aides during those demonstrations (ibid.). According to the Burkinabé newspaper Sidwaya, one of those homes belonged to François Compaoré, the younger brother of Blaise Compaoré (11 Nov. 2014). The radio station Radio télévision belge francophone (RTBF), reports that, in addition to the parliament building, [translation] "the homes of several leading figures in the Compaoré regime were looted or burned in the capital or in BoboDioulasso, the country's second largest city. Some businesspeople close to the ousted president or his brother were particularly targeted" (RTBF 31 Oct. 2014). Similarly, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014, published by the US Department of State, indicates that "[s]everal residences and offices of companies and individuals associated with Compaoré were looted and burned" (US 25 June 2015, 2). The newspaper La Croix explains that a proposal for constitutional reform, which was supposed to be submitted to parliament on 30 October 2014, and which [translation] "would have allowed the head of state to run for president in 2015," is at the root of the demonstrations (31 Oct. 2014). The New York Times specifies that the object of the bill was to "remove term limits from the Constitution" (1 Nov. 2014). According to the Guardian, the demonstrations also expressed "popular resentment towards [Compaoré's] family and inner circle because of a perception that their business interests … are tainted by corruption" (1 Nov. 2014). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources indicate that, after the resignation of Blaise Compaoré, a transitional government headed by Michael Kafando as president and [Lt Colonel] Yacouba Isaac Zida as prime minister had started to govern Burkina Faso (AI 25 Feb. 2015; RFI 19 Nov. 2014). Sources also indicate that there was no popular support for General Honoré Traoré in heading the transition government because of his ties with Blaise Compaoré (PANAPRESS 31 Oct. 2014; BBC 1 Nov. 2014).

An article on the state of the [translation] "barons of the Compaoré regime" following Blaise Compaoré's resignation, published by Jeune Afrique on 12 December 2014, states the following:

[translation]

… brothers, ministers or advisers, they all tried to keep Blaise Compaoré in power after 2015. Like those of "the chief," their fortunes came tumbling down on 31 October 2014 …. Some fled the country, others stayed. But whether they are abroad or in Burkina, they are all now trying to be as discreet as possible.

An Agence France-Presse (AFP) report published in December 2014 indicates that Blaise Compaoré is in exile in Côte d'Ivoire, after spending several weeks in Morocco (AFP 12 Dec. 2014). The report quotes Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as stating that Blaise Compaoré [translation] "was 'accompanied by five persons'" when he arrived in Morocco (ibid.). According to Jeune Afrique, Blaise Compaoré is in Abidjan with his wife and Moustapha Chafi, his former special advisor and [translation] "the only aide who has stayed by his side" (Jeune Afrique 3 Mar. 2015). Another article from the same source states that Blaise Compaoré's brother, François, is in exile in Benin (ibid. 16 Dec. 2014). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Treatment of Blaise Compaoré's Family Members and Associates by Authorities

Information on the treatment of Blaise Compaoré's family members could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Information on the treatment of his associates was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources state that, in March 2015, the transitional government removed 10 ambassadors from their positions, including the following 9: Justin Koutaba (Côte d'Ivoire), Daniel Ouédraogo (Cuba), Yéro Boly (Morocco), Pauline Winkoun Hien (Tunisia), Odile Bonkoungou (Germany), Idriss Raoua Ouédraogo (India), Frédéric Korsaga (Belgium), Prosper Vokouma (Switzerland), Monique Ilboudo (Denmark) (leFaso.net 24 Mar. 2015; Agence de presse Labor 7 Apr. 2015). The same sources indicate that Der Kogda was called back to the country (ibid; leFaso.net 24 Mar. 2015). According to Burkina Faso's news site leFaso.net, he was ambassador to the United Nations (ibid.). However, according to Agence de presse Labor, he was ambassador to the US (Agence de presse Labor 7 Apr. 2015).

According to Agence de presse Labor, those ambassadors [translation] "have long been the targets of criticism in Burkinabé public opinion for their supposed close links with former President Blaise Compaoré" (ibid.). According to leFaso.net, [translation] "those who have been called back are almost all politicians," with the exception of two career diplomats, including Prosper Vokouma, who [translation] "seems to be a cousin of Blaise Compaoré" (24 Mar. 2015).

Sources report that, in April 2015, an electoral code was adopted that declared that supporters of Blaise Compaoré who supported the bill to amend the Constitution would be "ineligible" for the presidential and legislative elections to be held in October 2015 (International Crisis Group 24 June 2015; Jeune Afrique 8 Apr. 2015). Sources indicate that, in May 2015, the Constitutional Court rejected the request to challenge this new electoral legislation (IHS Jane's 11 May 2015; VOA 8 May 2015), an initiative that came from the supporters of Blaise Compaoré (ibid.).

Sources report arrests of those close to Blaise Compaoré in April 2015, including three former ministers (RFI 9 Apr. 2015; APA 8 Apr. 2015). On 8 April 2015, Agence de presse africaine (APA) quoting an official statement from police authorities, reported the following:

[translation]

The former members of the government who have been arrested are Lamoussa Salif Kaboré, former Minister of Mines and Energy, Jérôme Bougouma, former Minister of Homeland Administration and Security, and Jean Bertin Ouédraogo, former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. …. The elected municipal officials are: Adama Zongo, former mayor of TanghinDassouri, president of the Federation for Peace with Blaise Compaoré (Fédération pour la paix avec Blaise Compaoré, FEDAP/BC), Joanny Ouédraogo, former mayor of Boulmiougou, Salia Sanou, former mayor of Bobo-Dioulasso and Seydou Sanou, former mayor of a district of Bobo-Dioulasso. The politician questioned is Rasmané Ouédraogo, a consultant and planning economist, who is president of the New Alliance of Faso (Nouvelle Alliance du Faso, NAFA) political party (ibid.).

According to the same source, those arrested were accused of [translation], "threats to state security, misconduct in land transactions, and extra billing and misconduct when doing public business" (ibid.). Sources report the release of Jérôme Bougouma, Jean Bertin Ouédraogo and Rasmané Ouédraogo (Fasozine 13 Apr. 2015; leFaso.net 15 Apr. 2015). According to leFaso.net, Salif Lamoussa Kaboré, Blaise Compaoré's former Minister of Mines and Energy, and Adama Zongo were detained at Ouagadougou's detention and correctional facility (ibid.). An AFP report, published on 29 April 2015 to announce the release of Salif Kaboré, indicates that he was the [translation] "last of five former ministers of Blaise Compaoré, heard in early April, to still be detained." According to the Burkina Faso newspaper L'Observateur Paalga, Boubacar Sanou, a former member of parliament for the Congress for Democracy and Progress (Congrès pour la démocratie et le progress, CDP) party, was arrested on 3 June 2015 (3 June 2015). The CDP was the party formerly in power (IHS Jane's 11 May 2015). Blaise Compaoré was elected as its honorary president at the party's national congress on 10 May 2015 (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. The Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence de presse africaine (APA). 8 April 2015. "Huit proches de Blaise Compaoré dont trois anciens ministres aux arrêts (officiel)". (Factiva)

Agence de presse Labor. 7 April 2015. "Burkina Faso : Le gouvernement de transition limoge 10 ambassadeurs proches de l'ex président Compaoré". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 29 April 2015. "Burkina : remise en liberté du dernier ex-ministre de Compaoré encore incarcéré". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

_____. 12 December 2014. "Exil : Blaise Compaoré a quitté le Maroc pour la Côte d'Ivoire". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

Amnesty International (AI). 25 February 2015. "Burkina Faso". Amnesty International - Rapport 2014-2015 : La situation des droits humains dans le monde. [Accessed 23 June 2015]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 1 November 2014. "Burkina Faso General Takes over as Compaore Resigns". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

La Croix and Agence France-Presse (AFP). 31 October 2014. Marianne Meunier. "Au Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré démissionne". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

LeFaso.net. 15 April 2015. Grégoire B. Bazié. "Le point des arrestations des dignitaires du régime Compaoré : Jérôme Bougouma, Jean Bertin Ouédraogo et Rasmané Ouédraogo libérés." [Accessed 24 June 2015]

_____. 24 March 2015. "Diplomatie : La Transition débarque dix ambassadeurs". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

_____. 31 October 2014. "Burkina Faso : Blaise Compaoré a rendu sa démission". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Fasozine. 13 April 2015. "Burkina Faso : Arrestations de proches de Blaise Compaoré - Jérôme Bougouma recouvre la liberté." [Accessed 23 June 2015]

The Guardian. 1 November 2014. David Smith. "Power Struggle in Burkina Faso After Blaise Compaoré Resigns as President". [Accessed 4 June 2015]

IHS Jane's Intelligence Review. 11 May 2015. Murtala Touray. "Civil Unrest Set to Intensify as Burkina Faso's Presidential Poll Draws Closer". [Accessed 24 June 2014]

International Crisis Group. 24 June 2015. "Burkina Faso : cap sur octobre". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Jeune Afrique. 3 March 2015. Benjamin Roger and Baudelaire Mieu. "Côte d'Ivoire : visites, mondanités et sport… la vie de Blaise Compaoré à Abidjan". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

_____. 16 December 2014. "Bénin : un réfugié burkinabè nommé François Compaoré". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

_____. 12 December 2014. Benjamin Roger. "Burkina Faso : Que deviennent les barons du régime Compaoré?" [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Jeune Afrique and Agence France-Presse (AFP). 8 April 2015. "Burkina : Les partisans de Compaoré déclarés inéligibles pour les scrutins d'octobre". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

The New York Times. 1 November 2014. "Burkina Faso's President Resigns, and General Takes Reins". (Factiva)

L'Observateur Paalga. 3 June 2015. "Bobo-Dioulasso : l'ex-député CDP Boubacar Sanou interpellé". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

Pan African News Agency (PANAPRESS). 31 October 2014. "Des manifestants préfèrent le général Kouamé Lougué pour assurer la transition au Burkina". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 9 April 2015. "Burkina : vague d'arrestations parmi les cadres du régime Compaoré". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

_____. 19 November 2014. "Burkina Faso : le lieutenant-colonel Isaac Zida nommé premier ministre". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Radio télévision belge francophone (RTBF). 31 October 2014. Patrick Bartholomé. "Ouagadougou fait la fête sur fond de nouveaux pillages". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

Sidwaya. 11 November 2014. Mariam Ouédraogo and Jean-Paul Congo. "Domicile de François Compaoré : un véritable business center". [Accessed 24 June 2015]

United States (US). 25 June 2015. Department of State. "Burkina Faso". Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014. [Accessed 2 July 2015]

Voice of America (VOA). 8 May 2015. "La Cour constitutionnelle déboute la requête des partisans de Compaoré". [Accessed 23 June 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Websites, including: Burkina Faso - Commission électorale nationale indépendante, official portal of the government of Burkina Faso; Courrier international; ecoi.net; Le Figaro; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; Mouvement burkinabé des droits de l'homme et des peuples; Reporters sans frontières; United Nations - Refworld; World Organisation Against Torture.