The family of Djibril Bassolé, Burkina Faso’s exiled former foreign minister and retired general, has confirmed that his daughter has been freed after being held captive for over a year. Yasmine Bassolé, who was abducted in September 2024 in Ouagadougou, was released late Monday night by unidentified masked individuals, relatives told AFP on Tuesday.
Yasmine was taken alongside her brother Aziz and a cousin during a period of heightened political tension in the country. Her father, a prominent political figure who served under former president Blaise Compaoré, has been accused by the current military leadership of attempting to destabilise the government. Bassolé has lived in France since 2020, following repeated disputes with the authorities who took power after the 2022 coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
According to a family friend who requested anonymity, Yasmine has safely returned home and is receiving medical evaluation and follow-up care after her ordeal. Her cousin Benoît, who was abducted in the same incident, was released earlier in July, though the circumstances of his freedom were not publicly disclosed.
However, Yasmine’s brother Aziz remains unaccounted for, and the Bassolé family continues to appeal to the public and authorities for assistance in locating him. Human rights advocates say his disappearance highlights ongoing concerns about disappearances and political tensions in Burkina Faso, where instability and security challenges have persisted under military rule.
Yasmine’s release offers a rare moment of relief for the family, but the search for Aziz continues as investigations remain ongoing.
Source:Africa Publicity
