Abidjan, Ivory Coast – François Compaoré, the younger brother of Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaoré, has been unable to return to France after his visa expired.
The 70-year-old, who has lived in France for the past eight years, travelled to Ivory Coast to visit his exiled brother in Abidjan but has since been stuck due to visa complications, according to a report by Jeune Afrique.
Visa Complications and Legal Challenges
Despite holding Ivorian nationality, Compaoré has been unable to renew his French visa with the French authorities in Abidjan. His initial appeal to a French court in November to return was rejected, with the judge citing insufficient evidence to support his claims.
Compaoré’s lawyer, François-Henri Briard of the Paris-based Briard law firm, outlined his client’s reasons for wanting to return to France.
Compaoré argued that he needed to provide care for his son, whose illness requires his support, and that he himself requires a medical operation that had been scheduled prior to his departure.
However, the court noted that Compaoré failed to submit documents substantiating these claims.
Next Steps
Compaoré’s legal team is preparing to file another application in a bid to secure his return to France. His continued stay in Ivory Coast underscores the difficulties surrounding his legal and personal circumstances.
Blaise Compaoré, François’s brother and Burkina Faso’s former president, has lived in exile in Ivory Coast since his ouster in 2014. This situation adds another layer to the Compaoré family’s ongoing legal and political challenges.