Burkina Faso: 12 life sentences handed down in the Solenzo canton chief murder case

The verdict has been reached in the murder case of Dibissan Coulibaly, the canton chief of Solenzo. Twelve of the twenty defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment by the criminal chamber of the Dédougou High Court. Two other defendants received twelve-month prison sentences, while six were acquitted.

Delivered on November 11 in Solenzo, after three days of hearings held in a special courtroom, the judgment concerns the events of November 25, 2024. On that day, a demonstration at the home of the canton chief turned violent, resulting in his death and property damage. The charges included participation in an illegal demonstration, aggravated intentional destruction of property, and murder.

Among the two people sentenced to twelve months in prison are BADO Harouna and SALOGO Djénéba. Found guilty of participating in an illegal demonstration, they were also each fined 600,000 FCFA. However, they were acquitted of charges of murder and aggravated destruction of property.

In civil proceedings, the deceased's heirs, represented by COULIBALY Sétou, were awarded 75 million FCFA in damages. The convicted parties were also jointly ordered to pay one million FCFA for costs incurred but not included in the court fees.

This court decision comes nearly two years after the events that cost the canton chief his life. The hearings had been moved to Solenzo, to the Sofitex meeting room, in order to bring justice closer to the affected communities.

Yolande Bazié