Norbert Zongo
Year: 1998
Nationality: Burkina Faso
Killed by: Military Officials
Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Press organization: L'indepéndent
What's Norbert Zongo's story?
On December 13, 1998, Zongo, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper L’Indepéndent, was found dead in his car, along with his brother, his chauffeur, and a fourth, unidentified person. The inside of the vehicle was burnt and the bodies were charred, although the exterior of the car was not burnt. A rear door was riddled with what appeared to be gunshots. The private newsweekly had recently published articles accusing François Compaore, the brother of then President Blaise Compaore, of complicity in the death of François’s chauffeur. In early August 2000, three members of Blaise Compaore’s Guard Regiment (RSP) went on trial for the murder of chauffeur David Ouedraogo. The three guards were found guilty of killing David Ouedraogo and sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in jail. The court also awarded the victim’s family 200 million francs (US$227,000) in damages. But it would be another six months before authorities acknowledged any link between the death of Ouedraogo and the murder of Norbert Zongo and his friends.
Go back