Djibrill Bassole: A Political Prisoner
By Djibrill Bassolé Solidarity Committee
Nine months ago, Djibrill Bassolé, the former Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister was arrested. He remains, since then, arbitrarily jailed in a military prison in Ouagadougou for his alleged role in the putsch of September 2015.
Mr. Bassolé is now a political prisoner and the current governments, just as the transitional government it had replaced, is doing everything in its power to keep him in jail. It has become crystal clear that there is no justice in Burkina Faso unless you agree to hail the King – Salif Diallo and his prince – Roch Kaboré.
Recently, Safietou Lopez, a prominent member of the ruling MPP has demonstrated her unspeakable hatred against Djibrill Bassolé and organized a demonstration against his release. Her protest disguised behind a so-called social organization, was organized in front of the courthouse, on June 3, 2016, and was obviously orchestrated in order to stop any bail that could benefit Djibrill Bassolé. Ms. Lopez has threatened not only to burn down the courthouse but also to attack the foreign lawyers who have been working on Bassolé’s case. Why so much hate and violence towards an innocent man that the authorities have failed to provide evidence to justify his arrest.
Why? The answer is simple: the MPP has been using Ms Lopez (among many other people and other newspapers) to create chaos and noise in order to continue hiding what they are really planning: ruin Mr. Bassolé reputation to make sure that he never comes out of prison or try to run for President ever again.
Since day one, the prosecution against Bassolé has been filled with holes and false evidences. The Justice refuses to admit that they have manipulated the entire system and that they simply can’t prove the veracity of the supposedly accusations against Bassolé. This is pure non-sense and clearly a political revenge against Bassolé.
The military judges, corrupted by the transitional and current governments, have denied Bassolé’s basic right to choose his lawyers by refusing the access of foreign lawyers despite the fact the Burkina Faso has signed international and regional agreements. Those agreements are very clear but the judges decided to simply ignore the law. This is now how the Justice is applied in our beautiful country. All citizens should be very worried.
Why is Bassolé still in prison? Knowing that the Justice has no formal evidence against him and that General Gilbert Diendéré as repeatedly confirmed and told the Justice department that Bassolé was not involved in his putsch; it’s very easy to conclude that this is pure injustice and political revenge.
Eddie Kombiogo, a prominent member of the CDP, also supposedly involved in the September 2015 coup, was recently released because his case was filled with irregularities but so is Bassolé’s case – actually much worse! So why not release Bassolé? Why are they so afraid to let him go? Could he talk and tell the truth?
Bassolé is a peacemaker. He has dedicated his entire life to national unity and peace in the region.
Djibrill Bassolé Solidarity Committee can be reached at [email protected]