Burkina marks 3rd anniversary since coup attempt as victims still wait for justice

Record ID: 1356650

  • Title: Burkina marks 3rd anniversary since coup attempt as victims still wait for justice
  • Date: 17th September 2018
  • Summary: SAWADOGO TYPING ON HIS LAPTOP SAWADOGO LOOKING ON
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2018 17:50
  • Keywords: Poltiics military coup Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore Michel Kafando Gilbert Diendere violence
  • Location: OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO
  • City: OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO
  • Country: Burkina Faso
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0068Y0NFX3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS SOME 4:3 MATERIAL
    Journalist Tygah Check Sawadogo remembers September 16, 2015 well - it was a day that forever changed his country, Burkina Faso.
    Protesters angered by President Blaise Compaore's attempt to change the constitution to extend his 27-year rule, forced him to flee the West African nation in 2014.
    Troops from the elite Presidential Security Regiment under the command of General Gilbert Diendere, Compaore's right-hand man, took members of the transitional government hostage.
    The week-long power grab failed, but 14 people were killed and more than 250 others were wounded as they attempted to resist the putsch.
    Amongst those killed was 14-year-old Jean Baptiste Yoda, by a stray bullet as he played in the streets of Ouagadougou.
    "We were riding our bikes when we saw two children playing. They were playing with car tyres without a care in the world, not knowing what was going on nearby in town. Maybe they were not aware of what was happening. But we could hear the sound of gun shots coming from town. Suddenly one of the children fell to the ground in front of us. We continued to ride our bikes but decided to come back. When we came back, we saw blood gushing out of his head and he was dead. It was over for him," Sawadogo said.
    Burkina Faso marked the third anniversary of the coup on Sunday.
    Sawadogo has vowed to honor the memory of the teenager by telling his story - he is a journalist with an online newspaper.
    Sawadogo also regularly visits the victim's mother, Noeli Kafando.
    The alleged coup leaders are currently on trial but Kafando says she's disappointed that the process has been slow.
    "It's been going on for too long and everything is ruined. What else can we say? We will let God handle it," she added.
    Sawadogo has been closely following and reporting on the trial. In total, 84 people are charged with crimes related to the failed coup.
    Defense lawyers have challenged the legality of the tribunal hearing the cases, claiming its composition did not follow proper procedure.
    "I sometimes follow the debates. I see the lawyers and the accused passing by and everyone talks about their families. Naturally, it takes me back to that child and how he would be a teenager right now and he would still be in school. So, seeing these people on trial brings back memories that we wish we could erase," said Sawadogo.
    Over 300 victims are claiming damages in the trial.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains computer game or software screenshots. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.
Register