Burkina Faso has issued an international arrest warrant for ousted President Blaise Compaoré over his alleged role in the murder of former President Thomas Sankara nearly 30 years ago.

"I confirm that an international arrest warrant was issued against (former) President Blaise Compaoré by the investigating judge," Prosper Farama, a lawyer for Sankara's family, told Reuters on Monday, adding that the charges were murder and complicity in the assassination, among others.

Sankara was killed together with 12 of his supporters during a 1987 coup that brought Compaoré to power in the West African country.

Earlier this year, a body believed to be Sankara's was exhumed, and an autopsy showed it was riddled with bullets, reinforcing allegations that he was executed during the coup.

Compaore, who is currently living in exile in Ivory Coast, was toppled in October 2014 by an uprising against his attempts to change the constitution and extend his rule after being in power for 27 years.

A transitional government was installed shortly afterward, but the country was thrown into turmoil again in September when members of the elite presidential guard led a short-lived coup attempt against Interim President Michel Kafando. The attempt failed and the guard was disbanded by security forces.

Kafando will step down later this month once the country’s constitutional court swears in Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who was elected the country’s new president in late November.