A former Burkinabè minister, Yolande Viviane Compaoré, has been found murdered at her residence in Ouagadougou, according to the capital’s public prosecutor.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, judicial authorities said Compaoré’s body was discovered at her home on Saturday. Preliminary findings indicate that she was assaulted before her death, suggesting a case of homicide.
An investigation has been opened, and authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could assist in identifying those responsible.
Yolande Viviane Compaoré was a prominent political figure during the presidency of Blaise Compaoré, who ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years before being ousted in a popular uprising in 2014.
She previously served as Governor of the Northern Region, a Member of Parliament for the former ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP). She held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Transport and Tourism. She also chaired the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the National Assembly.
Following the 2014 uprising, former president Blaise Compaoré fled to Côte d’Ivoire, where he has remained in exile.
Authorities say further details will be communicated as investigations continue.
