US diplomat indicted for child sexual abuse
Child abuse, one of the most frowned upon offences, is generally said to be committed by psychologically imbalanced individuals, or people with a “sick” sex drive or sexual orientation. Some external factors that are also closely linked to this phenomenon are tourism, poverty and vulnerability. Figures and observations reveal that areas like Africa, Asia, and South America are affected by the plague. Child abuse is also present in Western societies. For example, the confinement imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic saw an increase in instances of child abuse. Nowhere is spared from this scourge.
A case has recently emerged in Burkina Faso with one media headline stating, “US diplomat is accused of abusing young girls in Burkina Faso”. Fode Sitafa Mara the US diplomat cited and is said to be married to another US diplomat who works at the USAID office of the embassy in Burkina Faso. He, allegedly, befriended a Burkinabè family whose two daughters, aged 13 and 15 he “groomed, befriended and sexually abused”, over a period of approximately one year at the couple’s embassy-assigned residence in Ouagadougou. As the victims are minors, the case is regarded as a rape. Of course, we should remain mindful of the fact that Mara, so far, has only been indicted, and is yet to be proven guilty. Sources indicate that if proven guilty he will be sentenced to 30 years to life imprisonment for charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor. The case is being handled by the US jurisdiction and a federal district court judge will determine the sentence prescribed by US laws. Project Safe Childhood and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are cited as two of the institutions that investigated and brought the case to light, and which are asking for justice for the victims.
The Burkinabè main news agency, Agence d’Information du Burkina (AIB) reports that Mara was indicted on 14 June 2024. The Washington Post also reported on the incident. The information noted that Mara and his wife have lived in Burkina since August 2022. The two girls were friendly with the previous occupants of the bungalow where Mara and his wife lived and became friendly with the Maras also. The abuse, allegedly, started in November 2022 and continued until November 2023. The girls stated that Fode Sitafa started “illtreating” them from their second encounter with him. The sources also contend that Mara sent sexual images to the victims, plus money and presents, mainly through the phones he offered them. It is also alleged that he attempted to bribe the housemaid to lie on his behalf. He was taken into custody to avoid any attempt to escape.
The Burkinabè population is outraged and there have been calls for justice to be done. I am surprised at the way the cover was blown in this case, since, undoubtedly, more horrible deeds have occurred in certain countries and are kept silent. Some African countries are known to treat or consider Westerners as gods, untouchable people. In such countries, this case of child abuse would probably have remained silent, because of the prestige of the alleged perpetrator, or the silence could have been bought with a bribe. I have previously alluded to the violent and cruel treatment meted out to some Africans by Asians in Africa, and the perpetrators have no fear of being brought to book. There have been instances of Westerners getting away with crimes or injustices in Burkina and I am amazed at and encouraged by cases that result in the indictment or jailing of criminals, regardless of their skin colour.
A few years ago, a European languished in a Burkinabè jail for shooting pornographic movies featuring Burkina nationals. Another case involved the removal of a French employee of an airline company from Burkinabè in 1985, when the then Tribunals of the Revolution proved that he was paying sex workers to “sleep” with his dog. Certain sources claim that during the trial, which was aired at the national level, the dog was about to carry out its usual deed on the sex worker when a hotblooded para military ‘revolutionary guards” shot it to death. The French national was forced to leave the country a few hours after the trial.
No one is above the law, as we usually hear but, in reality, some people are placed above the law since their crimes go unpunished. That leads to re-occurrences of the crime, and the country involved becomes the favoured destination of perpetrators. In developing countries in general, the judicial system does not function well, and such malfunctions coupled with socio-cultural inferiority encourage gross violations of human rights. It would be commendable if every nation held everybody accountable when they commit a crime regardless of their status, skin colour or nationality. One of the ways to measure the degree of patriotism and dignity in a country is to watch or assess the seriousness and fairness with which all human beings living on the nation’s territory are held or treated by the justice system.
Moussa Traoré is Associate Professor at the Department of English of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
I had always loved my neighbouring country , Burkina Faso. No mercy for any western criminal . In other countries, it would have been swept under the carpet
Wow!! Burkina Faso is setting the pace for Africans to punish anybody, whoever he is for crimes committed.
I wonder who will end our long night of underrated ? who will bring back to Africa its glory ? why anyone from anywhere will come and tread our laws and regulations under feet ? I don’t blame the westerners, but our authorities. They should be bold enough to stand on their ground of justice for everyone. I hope a day will come that a beacon light of sovereignty will shine in Africa
What a pity to see that the so called ”developped people” misbahave like ” animals”. These westerners are embark in shameless moral degradation, as we can see how they promote and protect LGBT people. We Africans have to stand firmly on our values as they would like to screep in and corrupt our precious values. Our political leaders must be bold enough to hold accountable for every single crime comitted in their territory.
We Africans in general and Burkina Faso in particularl should steadfastly stand against such unlawful practices. This is unacceptable, of course, it is. Justice should be done and no one is above the law, period. It is horrible and I am so touched by that.
Thanks for this post and being the voice of those without voice.
Thank for making me aware about this turpitude in our country by westerners. We have to bring back a real justice in Africa because no one is above the law. Of course, any African cannot do this kind of crime in western countries with impunity; if it were the case, they would handle it according to their jurisdiction. So in this same veine, this case should not be handled by US jurisdiction but by Burkina one.
Good morning everyone. I’m highly interested in this issue.
The Vienna Convention On Diplomatic Relations ( 1961 ), which grant diplomats immunity from the host country’s laws. This is where my grievance is. Upon seeing the caption of Traore’s write-up,what came to my mind is diplomatic immunity.
So the 1961 promulgated law only favors the diplomats and leave the affected the crime unjustly attended to. This is particularly so when it has to do with Africa and the diaspora.
Child abuse is a severe crime and deserves the necessary attention from both the host country and the country of the diplomat. Two kids maltreated this way and you say the diplomat can only be a “persona non grata”? This is inhuman, to say the least.
As a Ghanaian graduate, I will always complain of the unending indirect rule by the Whites.
Okay,what happens to the civil and administrative immunity? Does protect a diplomat in the diaspora too?
Hmmmm! I see more of a dismissal of this issue than its prosecution to the latter. Because, if diplomats cannot be arrested, detained or prosecuted under the host country, what due diligence will you offer to crimes like this?
US as a first world country should not be tagged on issues like these.
Let me conclude on this. To my Burkinabes, demand waiver of immunity, so that, US would waive immunity to allow you prosecute this idiot. Until then, forget it.
How can you give chance to yourself even if you have no one outside of your country? You can take internal action but cannot make the diplomat face trial? This is total nonsensical!
I’m melancholic and have to discontinue my communication.
I’ll speak to factors that might lead to abuses in some other time.
I’m grateful to you Traore for your great work.
….Sakara Mumuni..
Ghana 🇬🇭
The judiciary systems in African countries face challenges in ensuring the consistent delivery of justice. There are concerns that in some instances, foreign nationals who commit crimes may not be adequately penalized. It is important to ensure that all individuals, regardless of nationality, are held accountable for their actions. In the case of the alleged sexual child abuse in Burkina Faso, it is essential that the legal process is thorough and fair, and that the alleged perpetrator is held accountable if found guilty. It is also important for African Governments to focus on improving the living standards of their citizens and providing social infrastructure to address social issues effectively.
Wow, doctor I really appreciated 👍
No one is above the law and I suggest that African should quickly decolonize their mind because I might say we are mentally captured, we must keep fighting, as Thomas SANKARA said just a struggle can free people.
Thank you to no end for touching the wood the sad reality 🙏
Thank you first for writing on such an important issue. That is occurring in our country, but is hidden. The main reason due to that is that the victims are most of the time afraid to reveal the truth.
I really love all your writeups. Keep the ink flowing.
I read carefully this article but what is shocking to me is the act . How come that someone with a high responsibility can do so?
And another interesting thing is the reaction of the Burkinabè people.
With that Africans will be respected and considered through out the world.
All my best regards beloved dad
Thanks a lot 🙏🙏🙏
It is our responsibility to enforce our laws. Regardless of whoever the offenders may be.
In the western world, foreigners are even marginalized and the laws are harshly applied to them particularly in many cases. Why should we, not even simply apply equally the laws to westerners and be favoring.
Our image of the western and the westerners must be processed again. May God help us all 🙏🏾