The remains of Burkinabe activist Alain Christophe Traoré, known as Alino Faso, are expected in Ouagadougou today, August 18, after his death in detention in Côte d’Ivoire sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries.
Traoré was found dead in his cell at the Gendarmerie Academy in Abidjan on July 24, with Ivorian authorities attributing the incident to suicide, while Burkina Faso rejects this version, describing it as a suspicious killing.
The Burkinabe government says it wants to accord him a dignified funeral and has vowed to ensure full clarity on the circumstances surrounding his death, which was only made public on social media three days later.
The case has deepened tensions between Ouagadougou and Abidjan, with Burkina Faso summoning the Ivorian Chargé d’Affaires to demand explanations.
While Ivorian officials insist the activist was held under favorable conditions and deny torture allegations, they have confirmed the launch of a judicial investigation.
The dispute comes at a delicate moment for the region, as relations between the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) and ECOWAS remain strained.
Authorities in Ouagadougou have warned that Alino Faso’s death will not go unpunished and urged citizens to remain mobilized as calls for truth and accountability intensify.
