Editing Norbert Zongo

{{Short description|Assassinated Burkinabé investigative journalist  (1949–1998)}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = 
| name             = Norbert Zongo
| honorific_suffix = 
| image            = File:Memorial Norbert Zongo.jpg
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| caption          = 
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| birth_name       = 
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1949|7|31|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Koudougou]] region, [[French Upper Volta]]
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|1998|12|13|1949|7|31|df=y}}
| death_place      = Near [[Sapouy]], Ziro Province, Burkina Faso
| death_cause      = [[Gunshot wound]]s
| monuments        = 
| module           = {{infobox writer
| embed          = yes
| pseudonym      = Henri Segbo
| education      = 
| alma_mater     = {{ubl|University of Abidjan|University of Benin|University of Yaoundé}}
| occupation     = Investigative journalist
| notableworks   = {{ubl|''Le parachutage'' (1988)|''Rougbêinga''}}
| spouse         = Genevieve Zongo
| children       = 2 sons
| relatives      = Ernest Zongo (Brother)
| awards         = Integrity Award
| signature      = 
| signature_size = 
| signature_alt  = 
| footnotes      = 
}}}}
'''Norbert Zongo''' (31 July 1949 &ndash; 13 December 1998), also known under the pen name '''Henri Segbo''' or '''H.S.''', was a Burkinabé [[Investigative journalism|investigative journalist]] who managed the newspaper ''L'Indépendant'' in [[Ouagadougou]], [[Burkina Faso]]. Under Zongo's supervision, ''L'Indépendant'' exposed extortion and impunity within the government of Burkina Faso President [[Blaise Compaoré]]. He was assassinated after his newspaper began investigating the murder of a driver who had worked for the brother of Compaoré.<ref name=bbc /><ref name=nation>{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Norbert-Zongo-Reporters-Without-Borders/-/1056/2749920/-/nxkekm/-/index.html|title=Ruling over Zongo case praised|author=LUCAS BARASA|date=12 June 2015|publisher=}}</ref><ref name=cpj>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpj.org/killed/1998/norbert-zongo.php|title=Norbert Zongo|publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists|date=December 13, 1998}}</ref><ref name=rsfhope>{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/news/hope-justice-norbert-zongo-last|title=Hope of justice for Norbert Zongo at last? |publisher=Reporters Without Borders|date=June 8, 2015}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Norbert Zongo was born in the [[Koudougou]] region, [[French Upper Volta]] on 31 July 1949 into the Gnougnoossi family, a prominent subset of the [[Mossi people]].{{sfn|Akyeampong et al.|2012|p=247}} While in secondary school in 1964, he created a newspaper, ''La Voix du Cours Normal'', writing bulletins on his exercise sheets with information gleaned from morning broadcasts from [[Radio France Internationale]], [[BBC World Service]], and other international radio stations. School officials eventually banned his publication after it discussed political topics.{{sfn|Soré|2008|pp=29–30}} After high school, Zongo pursued legal studies at [[Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny|University of Abidjan]] in [[Côte d'Ivoire]] and journalism at the [[University of Lomé|University of Benin]] in Togo. The latter university expelled him and he was imprisoned in Burkina Faso after he published his political novel ''Le Parachutage''. He was able to finish his education in journalism at the [[University of Yaoundé]] in [[Cameroon]].{{sfn|Soré|2008}}

Zongo was a supporter of human rights and also helped found the Movement for Human and Peoples' Rights, an organization in Burkina Faso.{{sfn|Soré|2008}}

Norbert Zongo's remains are buried in [[Gounghin, Gounghin|Gounghin]] Military Cemetery located just West of Ouagadougou.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/blog/2010/12/in-norbert-zongo-case-12-years-of-impunity.php|title=In Norbert Zongo case, 12 years of impunity – Committee to Protect Journalists|website=cpj.org|date=14 December 2010|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref>

== Career ==
In 1971, Norbert Zongo began his career as a teacher in Ouagadougou, [[Kadiogo Province]].{{sfn|Soré|2008|p=30}}

Zongo was also a writer. His first novel ''Le Parachutage'' was a thinly disguised political critique of [[Togo]]'s President [[Gnassingbé Eyadema]] set in the post-colonial era. In the preface of the novel in 1988, Zongo mentions being arrested and beaten for writing it. He followed this novel with the colonial setting for ''Rougbêinga'' two years later, which was also political [[satire]] of leadership.{{sfn|Wise|2001|pp=157–158}}

In 1991, Zongo, after working for the national daily paper ''Sidwaya'', founded ''La Clef'' with Saturnin Ki. It was the first newspaper in Burkina Faso to openly criticism the government, with Zongo contributing under the pseudonym Henri Sebgo{{sfn|Soré|2008|p=16}} (or H.S.{{sfn|Wise|2001|pp=157–158}}). The paper folded in 1993. That June, Zongo founded the weekly ''L'Indépendant'', which primarily covered government corruption.{{sfn|Soré|2008|p=16}} In 1996, he began investigating a series of fraud and [[Graft (politics)|graft]] cases involving several mining and manufacturing companies with ties to top political officials and President [[Blaise Compaoré]]'s family. His resulting work severely embarrassed the government. The following year, Zongo directly criticized the Parliament's decision to amend the [[Constitution of Burkina Faso|Constitution]] to allow Compaoré to seek a third term.{{sfn|Soré|2008|pp=22–23}}

== Disappearance and murder ==
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In December 1997, a suspicious disappearance and possible murder of David Ouedraogo, the driver of [[François Compaoré]] (President Blaise Campaoré's brother), prompted Zongo to investigate. Ouedrago was tortured and killed for allegedly stealing large sums of money.{{sfn|Soré|2008}}<ref name=thepatrioticvanguard>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/arusha-public-hearing-on-the-norbert-zongo-and-others-case|title=Arusha: Public Hearing on the Norbert Zongo and Others Case|author=The Patriotic Vanguard|work=The Patriotic Vanguard|date=5 December 2013}}</ref> Zongo reported the case and wrote small excerpts every week for his newspaper. He began getting death threats and the government ignored them.{{sfn|Soré|2008}} His wife, Genevieve Zongo, confirmed that he was receiving death threats from 1997 to his death in 1998. She was told that Norbert would often be followed by a car while on his motorbike. Zongo was also approached to convince him to drop his investigation, but he continued until his death.{{sfn|Soré|2008}}

On December 13, 1998, four bodies were found shot and burned in a Toyota Land cruiser on the side of the road in [[Sapouy]], [[Ziro Province]].<ref name=mondediplo>{{cite web|url=https://mondediplo.com/1999/08/09zongo|title=Zongo affair shakes Burkina Faso|date=August 1999|publisher=mondediplo.com}}</ref> The remains were identified as Norbert Zongo; Zongo's brother Yembi Ernest Zongo; Blaise Ilboudo, a colleague; and Abdouleye Ablassé Nikiema, who was Zongo's driver.{{sfn|Wise|2001|pp=157–158}}<ref name=fidh>{{cite web|url=https://www.fidh.org/en/region/Africa/burkina-faso/15142-burkina-faso-norbert-zongo-case-the-african-court-recognizes-the|title=Burkina Faso / Norbert Zongo Case : The African Court recognizes the responsibility of the State of Burkina Faso in the denial of justice for the victims|work=Worldwide Movement for Human Rights}}</ref><ref name=cpjimpunity2 /> Zongo's death triggered a national crisis and violent protests within Burkina Faso.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29858965|title=How Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaore sparked his own downfall|work=BBC News|date=31 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=yahoo>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/burkina-faso-charges-three-soldiers-murder-journalist-183735293.html|title=Burkina Faso charges three soldiers with murder of journalist|date=12 December 2015|work=Yahoo News}}</ref>

In January 1999, François Compaoré was charged with murder and harboring the body of the victim in connection with the death of Ouedraogo. The charges were later dropped by a military tribunal after François Compaoré appealed against them.

Six presidential body guards were identified as suspects in the murder.<ref name=fidh /><ref name=globalnews>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2397662/burkina-faso-indicts-jails-3-in-killing-of-investigative-journalist-nearly-2-decades-ago/|title=Burkina Faso indicts, jails 3 in killing of investigative journalist nearly 2 decades ago|author=Staff|date=12 December 2015|work=Global News}}</ref><ref name=ifex2>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifex.org/burkina_faso/1999/05/07/report_on_death_of_journalist_norbert/|title=Report on death of journalist Norbert Zongo submitted by Independent Commission of Inquiry|work=IFEX|date=7 May 1999}}</ref> In August 2000, five members of the [[Regiment of Presidential Security|presidential security]] were charged for the murder of Ouedraogo. Marcel Kafando, Edmond Koama and Ousseini Yaro, who are also suspects in the Norbert Zongo case, were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Edmond Koama died on January 4, 2001. Marcel Kafando was the only one who was charged for the crime, but the charges were later dropped on July 19, 2006. Marcel Kafando died three years later, in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newafricanmagazine.com/burkina-faso-30-october/|title=Burkina Faso: After the revolution|date=9 January 2015}}</ref> The judgment was called "scandalous" by [[Reporters Without Borders]].

Businessman {{ill|Oumarou Kanazoé|fr}}, who had also been implicated in documents brought forward by Reporters Without Borders,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rsf.org/en/reporters-without-borders-provides-new-evidence-zongo-murder-case | title=Reporters Without Borders provides new evidence in Zongo murder case &#124; RSF | date=20 October 2006 }}</ref> died in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lefaso.net/spip.php?page=web-tv-video&id_article=44497&rubrique4 | title=Mort de Oumarou Kanazoé : Ambiance de deuil à Pissy - leFaso.net }}</ref>

In 2013, the case was appealed for the family to have justice for their loss under a court system that was not under control of Burkina Faso. It was believed by the  African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights that Burkina Faso's government covered up the case and violated the revised treaty of the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) which allows freedom of expression and journalism.<ref name=cpj /><ref name=fidh /><ref name=opensocietyfoundations>{{cite web|url=https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/killing-norbert-zongo-african-court-stresses-state-obligation-protect-journalists|title=The Killing of Norbert Zongo: African Court Stresses State Obligation to Protect Journalists|work=Open Society Foundations}}</ref> The ACHPR determined that the case should be reopened in order for the victim's families to be compensated for their losses.<ref name=nation /><ref name=cpjimpunity1>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpj.org/blog/2008/12/norbert-zongos-murder-no-justice-after-10-years.php|title=Norbert Zongo's murder: No justice after 10 years|date=12 December 2008|publisher=}}</ref>

== Impact ==
[[File:Memorial Norbert Zongo.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Memorial to Zongo in Sapouy]]
During his funeral, about 20,000 people walked {{convert|10|km|spell=in}} from the mortuary to the cemetery to pay tribute to him and solidarity with his cause.{{sfn|Soré|2008|p=9}}<ref name=mondediplo /> In 2006, Zongo's case was determined closed with no one found guilty, which enraged civil rights defenders and citizens of Burkino Faso.<ref name=globalnews /><ref name=swarthmore>{{cite web|url=http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/burkina-faso-coalition-campaigns-justice-journalist-zongo-s-death-1998-2001|title=Burkina Faso coalition campaigns for justice in journalist Zongo's death, 1998-2001|publisher=}}</ref>

Norbert Zongo's widowed wife, Genevieve continued to keep his newspaper, the ''L'Indépendant'', alive after his death. She remains the primary publisher and editor in memory of her late husband.<ref name=rsfimpunity>{{cite web|url=http://en.rsf.org/burkina-faso-hope-of-justice-for-norbert-zongo-08-06-2015,47979.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718233058/http://en.rsf.org/burkina-faso-hope-of-justice-for-norbert-zongo-08-06-2015,47979.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2015|title=Hope of justice for Norbert Zongo at last?|publisher=Reporters Without Borders}}</ref><ref name=opensocietyfoundations />

In 2014, it was determined that Norbert Zongo's case was unfairly excused due to a bias in government.<ref name=nation />

On the morning of October 29, 2017, François Compaoré was arrested at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, based on a May 2017 international arrest warrant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/10/29/burkina-le-frere-de-l-ancien-president-compaore-retenu-a-l-aeroport-roissy-charles-de-gaulle-dans-l-affaire-norbert-zongo_5207537_3212.html|title=Burkina : François Compaoré interpellé à Roissy dans l'affaire Norbert Zongo|website=Le Monde.fr|date=29 October 2017|language=fr|access-date=2018-05-25}}</ref> A French ministerial decree authorized the extradition of Compaoré in March 2020.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2020/03/06/la-france-autorise-l-extradition-de-francois-compaore-vers-le-burkina-faso_6032028_3212.html | title=La France autorise l'extradition de François Compaoré vers le Burkina Faso | newspaper=Le Monde.fr | date=6 March 2020 }}</ref> However, the extradition was suspended in 2021 by the [[European Court of Human Rights]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20210806-la-cedh-suspend-l-extradiction-de-fran%C3%A7ois-compaor%C3%A9-depuis-la-france-vers-le-burkina-faso | title=La CEDH suspend l'extradiction de François Compaoré depuis la France vers le Burkina Faso | date=6 August 2021 }}</ref> Subsequently, in the aftermath of the [[September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état|2022 coup]], on December 13, 2023, France made the 2020 ministerial decree obsolete.<ref>[https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20231221-burkina-faso-la-france-annule-le-d%C3%A9cret-d-extradition-de-fran%C3%A7ois-compaor%C3%A9 "Afrique Burkina Faso: la France annule le décret d'extradition de François Compaoré"], Radio France Internationale, 21 December 2023 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref>

== Reactions ==
The [[Committee to Protect Journalists|Committee to Protect Journalists']] Africa program coordinator, Sue Valentine, stated "We praise Burkinabe authorities for taking this step (arresting three presidential soldiers involved in Zongo's murder) and call on them to ensure that the mastermind of this murder is identified and prosecuted. After 17 long years, the family, friends, and colleagues of Norbert Zongo deserve a thorough and transparent investigation leading to full justice."<ref name=cpjimpunity2>{{cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2015/12/glimmer-of-hope-in-norbert-zongo-murder-case-in-bu.php|title=Glimmer of hope in Norbert Zongo murder case in Burkina Faso|date=14 December 2015|publisher=}}</ref>

[[Reporters Without Borders|Reporters Without Borders']] head of its Africa desk, Cléa Kahn-Sriber, said, "This ruling constitutes a major turning-point in the Zongo case, which has suffered appallingly from the impunity tolerated for all these years by Burkina Faso's justice system."<ref name=nation />

Reporters Without Borders, who avidly campaigned for Zongo's case, stated, "This has always been a highly political case. Zongo was killed by members of the presidential guard. François Compaoré, the brother of President Blaise Compaoré, is implicated. The authorities never stopped protecting the killers. The president has got what he always wanted – injustice."<ref name=ifex1>http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/75827/ Judge dismisses sole suspect in Zongo's Murder</ref>

The Independent Commission of Inquiry released the following statement: "Norbert Zongo was assassinated for purely political motives because he practiced investigative journalism. He defended a democratic ideal and had chosen to become involved, with his newspaper, in the struggle for the respect of human rights and justice, and against the poor management of the public sector and impunity."<ref name=ifex2 />

== Legacy and commemoration ==
Many Burkinabé journalists accredit Zongo with being the first writer in the country to practice [[investigative journalism]].{{sfn|Soré|2008|pp=22–23}}

* The singer [[Alpha Blondy]] wrote a song, ''Journalistes en danger'', about the assassination of Zongo.
* In 2012, a memorial was erected at the Highway N6 (Ouagadougou – Léo) near Sapouy, at the site of his murder.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Gilewicz |first=Nicholas |date=2019 |title=Museums of News / Journalism Memorials |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicholas-Gilewicz/publication/332750049_Museums_of_NewsJournalism_Memorials/links/634849d02752e45ef6b4a111/Museums-of-News-Journalism-Memorials.pdf |journal=[[Manhattan University|Manhattan College]] |doi=10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0163 |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>
* In 2017, the [[public university]] of [[Koudougou]] changed its name to [[Norbert Zongo University]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Loura |first=Soumana A. |date=1 December 2017 |title=Enseignement supérieur : Et l’Université de Koudougou prit le nom Norbert Zongo |url=https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article80750 |website=LeFaso |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=Université Norbert Zongo |url=https://www.tuumz.com/listing/universite-norbert-zongo |website=Tuumz |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>

==Awards==
In 2001 Zongo was posthumously given the Integrity Award for his work to expose government corruption.{{sfn|Soré|2008}}<ref name=integrity>{{cite web|url=http://www.transparency.org/getinvolved/awardwinner/norbert_zongo|title=Award winner – Norbert Zongo (Integrity Award)|first=Transparency International|last=e.V.|publisher=}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book| last1 = Akyeampong| first1 = Emmanuel Kwaku| last2 = Gates | first2 = Henry Louis| last3 = Niven| first3 = Steven J. | title = Dictionary of African Biography| publisher = Oxford University Press USA| date = 2012| ref = {{harvid|Akyeampong et al.|2012}}| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ| isbn = 9780195382075}}
* {{Citation| last = Soré| first = Ramata| title = The Murder of Norbert Zongo : A history of investigative journalism in Burkina Faso| date = 2008| url = http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Murder%20of%20Norbert%20Zongo%20-%20A%20history%20of%20investigative%20journalism%20in%20Burkina%20Faso.pdf| publisher = [[Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism]]}}
* {{cite book| editor-last = Wise| editor-first = Christopher| title = The Desert Shore: Literatures of the Sahel| publisher = Lynne Rienner Publishers| volume = 3| date = 2001| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8fls3x1xcmUC| isbn = 9780894108679}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://africaworldpressbooks.com/the-parachute-drop-by-norbert-zongo-translated-from-the-french-by-christopher-wise/ ''Le Parachutage'']
* [http://www.achpr.org/ Movement for Human and Peoples' Rights]
* [http://www.ecowas.int/ Economic Community of West African States]
* [http://www.achpr.org/instruments/achpr/ African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights]
* [http://www.transparency.org/getinvolved/anticorruptionaward/ Sue Valentine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128061359/http://www.transparency.org/getinvolved/anticorruptionaward |date=2016-11-28 }}
* [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://expertes.eu/expertes/clea-kahn-sriber/&prev=search Cléa Kahn-Sriber]
* [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.aouaga.com/qui/profil.asp%3Fid%3D10&prev=search Chrysogone Zougmoré]
* [http://www.transparency.org/getinvolved/anticorruptionaward/ Integrity Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128061359/http://www.transparency.org/getinvolved/anticorruptionaward |date=2016-11-28 }}
* [http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/75827/ Judge dismisses sole suspect in Zongo's Murder] – [[International Freedom of Expression Exchange|IFEX]]
* [https://archive.today/20070725182339/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR600012001?open&of=ENG-BFA/ Amnesty International: "Burkina Faso: Amnesty International Welcomes Progress in the Norbert Zongo Case"]
* [http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-27712330@7-37,0.html ''Le Monde''] (in French)

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zongo, Norbert}}
<!--- Categories --->
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Assassinated newspaper publishers (people)]]
[[Category:Burkinabé journalists]]
[[Category:Assassinated Burkinabé people]]
[[Category:People murdered in Burkina Faso]]
[[Category:People from Centre-Ouest Region]]
[[Category:Burkinabé novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century male writers]]
[[Category:Male novelists]]
[[Category:Male journalists]]
[[Category:Burkinabé male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century journalists]]