Former Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaoré was condemned to life in prison for his role in the assassination of his predecessor, Thomas Sankara.
37-year-old Sankara was killed with 12 others in a coup that brought Compaoré to power in 1987.
On Wednesday, the panel issued its decision.
“The court finds Blaise Compaoré and Hyacinthe Kafando guilty of attack on state security, collaboration in murder, and hiding of a corpse,” the tribunal said in its decision.
The former president was charged in absentia, alongside Hyacinthe Kafando, his former head of security, who was also sentenced to life imprisonment.
Compaoré and Kfando earlier denied any role in Sankara’s death. The court also found three other defendants not guilty.
Four years after capturing power in a coup, Sankara was murdered in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou.
Sankara took office full of optimism, claiming to combat corruption and post-colonial influences. He also criticized foreign aid as a means of control.
During his presidency, he had widespread popular support for his attempts to strengthen the economy. People applauded his support of initiatives to prevent excessive spending by public authorities.
Compaoré ruled for 27 years after replacing Sankara. He was deposed in a coup in 2014 after attempting to modify the constitution to extend his reign.
He then escaped to Ivory Coast, where he was granted citizenship.
What you might not know about Blaise Compaoré
Blaise Compaoré, born February 3, 1951, in Ouagadougou, Upper Volta, French West Africa, is a military leader and politician who ruled Burkina Faso from 1987 after gaining power in a coup.
Following days of violent protest, he resigned on October 31, 2014.
Burkina Faso gained independence on December 11, 1958.
