The Burkinabe justice system has ordered an autopsy on the body of cyberactivist Alain Christophe Traore, also known as Alino Faso.
The activist died in a prison in Abidjan under controversial circumstances, and his death has become a flashpoint for diplomatic tension and public protest.
Traore’s remains were repatriated to Ouagadougou on Monday, August 18, 2025. The autopsy was a key part of the ongoing investigation into the disputed details of his death. A large crowd, including government officials, judges, artists, and influencers, was present as the coffin was transferred from a military plane to the Bogodogo morgue.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the public prosecutor of Burkina Faso, Blaise Bazie, confirmed that the autopsy was performed on August 19 by a forensic team. The body has since been released to the family, and the autopsy results will be added to the case file. Bazie has called on anyone with information to come forward and contact the office of the senior investigating judge of the Ouagadougou High Court.
Traore’s death on July 24 in an Abidjan gendarmerie cell remains a source of heated debate. While Ivorian authorities have claimed it was a suicide, citing “privileged” detention conditions, Burkinabe officials have publicly rejected this explanation, suspecting a “vile assassination.” The case has already strained diplomatic relations between Ouagadougou and Abidjan.
The Burkinabe government has pledged that “Alino Faso’s death will not go unpunished,” promising a dignified funeral for the activist, whose generosity was “known and recognized” by the public. This case comes at a sensitive time, following the breakup of the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) with ECOWAS.
HO/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA