On March 31, 2026, Mahamadi Baguian, a member of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie, VDP), died in Ouagadougou following his arrest by security forces, according to eyewitness accounts and an official statement from the public prosecutor.
Nine days earlier, on March 22, 2026, Baguian had posted a video in which he denounced what he described as an injustice and directly criticised Hon. Émile Zerbo, Minister of Transport and Territorial Administration. In the video, he alleged that he had been prevented from resuming work accompanying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca.
“My problem is in the hands of Émile Zerbo,” Baguian said, adding that repeated attempts to meet the minister had been unsuccessful.
He described himself as an experienced pilgrimage guide who had lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for several years, stating: “I am an international guide in Mecca. I have worked with pilgrims from several countries.” He questioned why he had been excluded from official arrangements to accompany pilgrims, noting that he had sought inclusion in relevant committees without success.
Baguian also stated that he had made multiple attempts to engage the authorities. “I went to the office several times, but I was always told to come back later, and I never received a response,” he said. In the same video, Baguian also alleged that he had previously been compelled to return to Burkina Faso from Saudi Arabia under unclear circumstances after being reported to Burkinabe authorities.
Nine days after the video was published, Baguian was arrested on the morning of March 31, 2026, at the Naab-Raagha market in Ouagadougou.
According to eyewitness accounts, he was initially in a vehicle with security officers before attempting to flee into the market, stating repeatedly that he had done nothing wrong. He was subsequently apprehended, subdued, hooded, and bound. Several witnesses reported that he cried out in pain during the arrest.
On April 1, 2026, the public prosecutor at the Ouaga I High Court issued a statement presenting a different account. According to the prosecutor, Baguian fell ill while being transferred to the criminal investigation department and was taken to the infirmary of the National Police Academy (École Nationale de Police), where he was pronounced dead despite receiving medical care.
Baguian’s father reportedly stated that he observed signs of blood on his son’s body, raising questions about the circumstances of his death. This account contrasts with the official explanation citing a sudden illness. Authorities have however indicated that an investigation would be opened to determine the cause of death.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) calls on the Burkinabe authorities to launch an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mahamadi Baguian without delay, to fully clarify the allegations of ill-treatment during his arrest, and to ensure that those responsible are held to account and that justice is served for his family. The MFWA reminds the authorities of their obligation to respect the fundamental rights of any person deprived of their liberty, particularly their right to safety and dignity
