What You Need to Know
Yasmin Bassole, daughter of former Foreign Minister Jibril Bassole, regained her freedom on November 24 in Ouagadougou after more than a year of forced disappearance. She was kidnapped on September 16, 2024, during a violent raid by individuals posing as security forces. Her case highlights ongoing political tensions and human rights concerns in Burkina Faso.
Africa. Yasmin Bassole, daughter of former Foreign Minister General Jibril Bassole, regained her freedom on Monday, November 24, in Ouagadougou, after more than a year of forced disappearance, according to sources close to her family.
Yasmin, a lawyer working at the West African Economic and Monetary Union, was kidnapped on September 16, 2024, while leaving a medical clinic in Ouagadougou, following an assault during a violent raid by individuals who identified themselves as security forces.
Since that date, her family had no information about her whereabouts or health status, raising widespread concerns about her fate.
Political Context
The kidnapping occurred amid a wave of forced disappearances affecting political and human rights figures, or their relatives, since General Ibrahim Traore came to power. International human rights organizations accuse the military authorities of resorting to arbitrary arrests and restricting civil liberties, with several media reports documenting these violations.
Yasmin’s case has garnered particular attention due to her father’s status, General Jibril Bassole, who resides in France after being sentenced to ten years in prison for an alleged coup attempt in 2015, a charge he has consistently denied. Observers believe that the kidnapping of his daughter was a means of exerting pressure on him, as he had not hesitated to criticize the new authorities months before the incident.
Implications of the Release
Yasmin’s release comes at a time of escalating political and judicial tensions in Burkina Faso. In October, several journalists were arrested before being released later, and authorities detained ten judges from the Court of Appeal on alleged corruption charges.
Analysts view this step as a possible attempt by the military council to alleviate international pressures and reassure regional partners concerned about the unfolding events in the country. However, the absence of any official announcement leaves the message the authorities intended to convey ambiguous, raising questions about the future of freedoms and rights during the transitional phase.
Burkina Faso has experienced significant political instability, particularly since the military coup led by General Ibrahim Traore. This period has seen a rise in forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions, particularly targeting political and human rights figures. International human rights organizations have condemned the military government’s actions, citing a pattern of repression against dissenting voices.
The case of Yasmin Bassole is particularly notable due to her father’s prominence and previous legal troubles. Jibril Bassole, who has been living in France after being sentenced to ten years in prison for an alleged coup attempt in 2015, has been critical of the current regime.
