Thomas Sankara killing: Burkina Faso’s Diendere charged

The leader of September’s short-lived coup in Burkina Faso has been charged with complicity in the 1987 murder of former President Thomas Sankara. Gen Gilbert Diendere is the most senior official to be charged.

President Sankara was murdered by a group of soldiers, but the exact circumstances of his death have remained a mystery.

Mr Sankara, a left-wing radical described as “Africa’s Che Guevara”, remains a hero for many Africans.

He was succeeded by Blaise Compaore who stayed in power for 27 years.

Gen Diendere, who went on to be Mr Compaore’s intelligence chief, was seen as a close friend and political ally of Mr Sankara at the time of his death.

During Mr Compaore’s rule the investigation into the murder made little progress.

BBC

UM– USEKE.RW