Exclusive investigation: Safiatou Lopez/Zongo, a life marked by abandonment and disillusionment
On the night of Saturday, September 13 to Sunday, September 14, 2025, in Accra, Burkinabe civil society activist Safiatou Lopez/Zongo passed away in relative isolation. Behind the official announcement of her death lies a darker reality: that of a solitary struggle, marked by unanswered calls for help and deep bitterness toward the countries whose interests she had long defended.
According to our findings, Safiatou Lopez’s health had severely deteriorated in recent weeks. She had requested medical evacuation from French and Ivorian authorities, hoping for the support of the very countries she had aligned with in her political battles. But those requests went unanswered. Abandoned, she found refuge in Ghana, where her fate was tragically sealed.
Within her family, grief is mixed with quiet anger. Some relatives speak of a “moral betrayal,” believing that the activist paid the price for her commitments turned outward rather than toward her own country. “She defended causes that were not Burkina Faso’s, but foreign interests. And when she needed help, no one answered,” confided one family member.
While many had hoped for her return to Burkina Faso, Safiatou Lopez will ultimately be buried in Ghana. For many observers, this distance symbolizes the bitter price of one-sided loyalty. “France has no friends, only interests”. recalled one analyst, viewing her fate as a harsh illustration of international realpolitik.
Her case revives a recurring question: what do African figures truly gain when they align with foreign interests?
Examples abound: former president Blaise Compaoré, now unable to access medical care in France, or his brother François, turned away when he attempted to go there. These trajectories highlight how alignment with external allies can often end in isolation and oblivion.
Beyond the controversy, the death of Safiatou Lopez/Zongo sounds like a warning. For many observers, her story underscores the need for African societies to defend their own interests first. As the old saying goes, “home is best”.
