Questions? +1 (202) 335-3939 Login
Trusted News Since 1995
A service for global professionals · Friday, March 29, 2024 · 699,686,166 Articles · 3+ Million Readers

Release Burkina Faso politician Djibril Yipéné Bassolé now, UN experts urge

UN experts from the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention are calling on the authorities in Burkina Faso to release immediately Mr Djibril Yipéné Bassolé, who was arrested in September 2015.

Mr Bassolé, who is 60 and a former Minister of Security, was detained after a failed coup. He was accused of supporting the attempt to overthrow the Government and charged with attacking state security and colluding with a foreign power. He has always denied the charges.  

In April 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) examined his detention, determined it was arbitrary, and called at the time for his release.

Mr Bassolé, who had twice served as the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, was removed from prison and placed under house arrest two months ago. His lawyers asked the Working Group to issue a new opinion on his detention, but this request was rejected.

However, the Working Group says: “Although the conditions of his detention may have changed, the deprivation of liberty has not ceased. We call on the Government of Burkina Faso to respect international standards and release Mr Bassolé now.”

The Government of Burkina Faso asked for the opinion to be reviewed but the Working Group has concluded that the request does not meet its threshold for such a review, and is insisting that Mr Bassolé should have his freedom immediately.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Powered by EIN Presswire
Distribution channels: Law, Politics, World & Regional


EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors.

Submit your press release