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Burkina Faso has ordered an autopsy on the body of cyberactivist Alain Christophe Traoré, known as Alino Faso, whose death in an Ivorian prison has sparked controversy and diplomatic tensions.
Traoré’s remains were repatriated from Abidjan on Monday, August 18, and received at Ouagadougou airport by a large gathering of officials, artists, influencers, and members of the public.
The coffin was then transferred to the Bogodogo morgue ahead of the autopsy.
In a statement on Wednesday, Burkina Faso’s public prosecutor, Blaise Bazié, confirmed that “an autopsy was carried out on August 19, 2025, by a forensic team at the Bogodogo University Hospital, before the body was handed over to the family.”
He added that the results will form part of the ongoing investigation and called on anyone with information to contact the office of the senior investigating judge at TGI Ouaga I.
Traoré, who died on July 24 while in detention at the Gendarmerie Academy in Abidjan, had been held under circumstances that remain disputed.
The Ivorian prosecutor’s office suggested suicide, stating that the detainee had enjoyed “privileged” conditions. Burkina Faso, however, has rejected this account, raising concerns of a “vile assassination.”
The case has inflamed public sentiment in Burkina Faso, where the activist was widely respected for his civic engagement and generosity.
Authorities have pledged that “the death of Alino Faso will not go unpunished” and are promising a dignified funeral.
The affair has also intensified diplomatic strains between Ouagadougou and Abidjan, occurring amid the broader geopolitical backdrop of the Sahel region, including the recent dissolution of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) with ECOWAS.
Traoré’s death continues to fuel calls for justice from civil society and the general public, highlighting tensions over the treatment of activists and the responsibilities of regional authorities in safeguarding human rights.
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