In the "land of men of integrity", freedom of the press has become a reality over the years. There is a generalised climate of outspokenness. There were few judicial cases for press offences. A robust satirical press comes out regularly without suffering any particular difficulties. But blood was shed before this new climate came about. The 1998 murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, in which there were strong suspicions against the brother of President Blaise Compaoré, was never cleared up. Reporters Without Borders had a further meeting with the examining magistrate in the case, Wenceslas Ilboudo, in September 2005. He explained that, despite his efforts, the key witnesses in the case were refusing to talk. One of the most important suspects, a former sergeant in the presidential guard, Marcel Kafando, although sick and sentenced for the murder which Norbert Zongo was investigating when he was killed, lives peacefully at his home in Ouagadougou. This state of affairs did not prevent President Blaise Compaoré from being comfortably re-elected, in November.

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