1. Home
  2. West Africa
  3. Burkina Faso

Government orders investigation

Burkina Faso has ordered an independent investigation into the death of an outspoken local journalist, Norbert Zongo, an official communique published in the local press today said. Three places on the commission would be reserved for representatives of international media associations and human rights organisations. A member of an Amnesty International group in Ouagadougou, the Burkinabe capital, told IRIN today that no specific body had been named in the government statement. Zongo’s charred body was found on Sunday in his car with no external burn marks on the vehicle, AFP reported at the weekend. Zongo, publisher of the weekly ‘L’Independent’, was known locally for his investigative reporting. His death and that of three others has sparked demonstrations in the country by thousands of students and pressure from international bodies such as Amnesty International for a full, independent investigation.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

Share this article

Get the day’s top headlines in your inbox every morning

Starting at just $5 a month, you can become a member of The New Humanitarian and receive our premium newsletter, DAWNS Digest.

DAWNS Digest has been the trusted essential morning read for global aid and foreign policy professionals for more than 10 years.

Government, media, global governance organisations, NGOs, academics, and more subscribe to DAWNS to receive the day’s top global headlines of news and analysis in their inboxes every weekday morning.

It’s the perfect way to start your day.

Become a member of The New Humanitarian today and you’ll automatically be subscribed to DAWNS Digest – free of charge.

Become a member of The New Humanitarian

Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

Join