Ouagadougou: His Majesty Aim© Ossambi© Bassol©, Chief of the canton of R©o, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the age of 81. An emblematic figure of customary authority and tireless guardian of the Lyolo tradition, he was buried in a private family ceremony on the night of January 16-17.
According to Burkina Information Agency, a "baobab tree" has fallen, leaving behind a community bereft of its wisdom. The testimonies gathered after his funeral describe a man who dedicated his life to preserving cultural identity and fostering social cohesion in the Nando region.
For Joseph Badolo, president of the Pointoua de R©o association, the late sovereign was much more than a traditional chief: 'He was the memory of our history, our customs, and our cultural values.' Renowned for his profound understanding of Ly©la culture and regional political history, His Majesty was an inexhaustible source of information for researchers, students, and the media, particularly RTB (Radio T©l©vision du Burkina), with whom he regularly collaborated to document local heritage.
Beyond his customary duties, Aim© Ossambi© Bassol© was a devout Catholic, effortlessly reconciling his responsibilities as chief with his Christian faith.
Laurent Bassol©, a member of the royal family, emphasizes that the sovereign was the "moral and spiritual guarantor" of the chieftaincy, a man committed to peace whose departure leaves a huge void throughout Sangui©.
The emotion was particularly raw for his eldest daughter, Rosa Sandrine Bassol©, who shared the sudden circumstances of his passing. According to her account, the chief remained lucid and surrounded by his family until his last breath, passing away abruptly in the early hours of Sunday morning after a fall outside his room. She remembers him as a loving father, unable to distinguish between his own children and those entrusted to his care.
Saturday morning was marked by a steady stream of dignitaries who came to offer their condolences to the bereaved family. Among the officials present were the Minister of Health, Dr. Lucien Kargougou, and the Governor of the Nando region, Adama Jean Yves B©r©.
With the passing of His Majesty Aim© Ossambi© Bassol©, Sangui© loses one of its great servants of tradition, a bridge between ancient history and future generations.