Procès de Kafolo : La défense passe à l'offensive à Abidjan
The Abidjan criminal court reopened its doors on Monday, April 20, 2026, for a crucial stage in the trial of the Kafolo terrorist attack. Six years after the tragedy that claimed the lives of 14 Ivorian soldiers on the Burkina Faso border, the defense's closing arguments are now underway.
Opened in late December 2025, this trial examines the responsibilities of 45 defendants in the bloody June 2020 attack, attributed to the Katiba Macina . The key issue in the proceedings remains determining the degree of involvement of each individual, distinguishing between members of the commando unit and those providing mere logistical support.
The public prosecutor's office has already drawn a clear line in its requests for sanctions, based on the nature of the alleged offenses:
| Category of defendants | Number | Sentence required | Typical profile |
| Heart of the commando | 5 | Perpetuity | Direct executors (e.g., Ali Sidibé, known as "Sofiane"). |
| Logistics support | 26 | 20 years in prison | Accommodation, information and material assistance. |
| Marginal involvement | 14 | Acquittal | Profiles deemed not to be at fault or insufficient evidence. |
On Monday, the defense lawyers, led in particular by Mr. Mohamed Koné , began their pleadings with a clear objective: to contest the classification of the facts and break the presumption of guilt weighing on their clients.
"The challenge is to distinguish the real culprits from the collateral victims of this investigation," suggests the defense, which hopes to obtain more acquittals, particularly for those whose participation is deemed "peripheral".
The outcome of this highly symbolic case for national security in Ivory Coast is now imminent.
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