Ivory Coast said on Wednesday it has granted citizenship to Burkina Faso's former president Blaise Compaore, potentially dashing hopes he could be extradited to his neighbouring native country for his role in a high-profile murder case, according to Reuters.

Burkina Faso issued an arrest warrant against Compaore in December for the murder of former president and military leader Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated 30 years ago in a case that has famously gone unsolved.

The naturalization decree, published in the Ivory Coast's official journal for January, accorded Compaore and his son Paul Francois Ivoirian citizenship.

"It is a sovereign naturalisation decision that took place," said Affoussiata Bamba, the government spokeswoman.

Ivory Coast's constitution forbids extradition of its citizens, according to a high-level jurist.

Source: SPA