Burkina Faso is demanding answers following the death of popular social media activist Alain Traoré, known as Alino Faso, who died in detention in Ivory Coast under controversial circumstances.
Traoré, 32, was found dead in his Abidjan prison cell on July 24, 2025. Ivorian authorities have claimed it was a suicide, but the explanation has sparked widespread outrage in Burkina Faso, where officials and supporters are calling for an independent investigation.
On July 29, hundreds of protesters dressed in white marched through Ouagadougou from the Thomas Sankara Memorial to the Ivorian Embassy.
They rejected the official narrative and demanded justice, transparency, and the immediate repatriation of Traoré’s body.
Traoré had been in detention since January 2025, facing charges of conspiracy against the state and collusion with foreign agents—allegations his supporters insist were politically motivated.
Burkina Faso’s government has strongly condemned his death.
The Minister of Communication vowed that it “will not go unpunished,” and called for a joint investigation between the two countries.
Tensions are rising, with some protesters even calling for Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara’s resignation, accusing his government of escalating repression.
Human rights groups have also weighed in, urging an impartial inquiry and warning that the case could damage diplomatic ties between the two West African nations.
As pressure mounts, Traoré’s family and supporters continue to demand both the return of his remains and the truth behind his death.
