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The test is considered First terrorist attack in Burkina Faso (October 9, 2015), during a period of political transition in the country. Armed men attacked the Samorogu gendarmerie brigade, about thirty kilometers from the Malian border (in the west of the country). Three Burkinabe gendarmes died and one attacker was killed.
Thanks to judicial cooperation between Mali and Burkina Faso, the Anti-Terrorism Judicial Center of the Ouaga II High Court was able to try the cases of about 10 defendants, including three detained in Mali. The defendants were indicted on charges of “conspiracy to commit a terrorist crime”, “assassination”, “aggravated theft”, “illegal possession of a firearm”, “aggravated intentional damage to public or private property”, “arson with illegal possession of a firearm and terrorist enterprise”.
They are: Aboubacar Sawadogo alias Mossi (detained in Mali), Moussa Maïga (detained in Mali), Ousmane Dembélé (detained in Mali), Abdoulaye Ouédraogo, Lassina Sandara, Seydou Dembélé alias Béni, Dramane Sanou, Abdoulaye Bebgaly, Boubacar Dramé, and Hamidou Kindo alias Zallé Hamidou.
At the hearing, all the suspected terrorists present pleaded not guilty. “I ask the judge for forgiveness, I did not participate in the attack,” Lacina Sandra pleaded.
“I ask for their forgiveness because I have nothing to give them, I ask for their forgiveness because it was my brother who put me in this situation. It was my brother who brought me there as a middleman. I really didn’t know, I came to the Quranic school. I didn’t know what we were going to do. I was not entrusted with anything. I was just told to sit there and wait. I ask for your forgiveness because I don’t know anything,” argued Seydou Dembélé, alias Béni, who was 14 at the time of the incident.
“I left to deliver medicine and I asked for forgiveness from the relatives of the victims. I did not understand the severity of the situation,” said Dramane Sanou.
“I didn’t know all those who attacked the gendarmerie. Forgive me, I don’t know anything. Everything that was said, I didn’t know. The story of jihadism, I only knew it was true after the Samogua attack. Honestly, I didn’t know and it’s really painful to be associated with it. I have a son who is a policeman…”, defends Boubacar Dramé, considered the spiritual father of the group (the group receives advice and instructions from him).
The public campaign against Abdoulaye Ouedraogo ended with his death.
In a verdict handed down on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, three defendants, Lassina Sandara, Dramane Sanou and Boubacar Dramé, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Seydou Dembélé, alias Béni, was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 2 million CFA francs, all suspended. The convicted must pay 70 million CFA francs to each victim.
Those who fail to appear will be convicted in absentia and warrants will be issued for their arrest.
The convict has 15 days from today to appeal the verdict.
OL
Lefaso.com
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