Hundreds of Bobolais were on the streets on Saturday, July 3, 2021, to respond to the call of the political opposition to march against insecurity in Burkina Faso. From Tiéfo Amoro Square to the governorate, the demonstrators beat the pavement to deliver their message to the authorities. They call on the President of Faso, Roch Kaboré, to take strong measures to bring peace and security to the country.

This march was attended by some political leaders of the region including the former mayor of the commune of Bobo-Dioulasso, Salia Sanou, who came to show his support for this initiative. Together with the demonstrators, they are all protesting against the worsening security situation and calling for a response to the increasingly deadly jihadist attacks.

The protests came one month after the carnage in Solhan, in the north-east of the country, in which more than 130 people were killed. “Given the latest macabre security developments, it was time to give a strong signal to leaders to pull themselves together and measure the seriousness of the situation,” a demonstrator said, visibly angry.

It is in the face of this tragedy that the people decided to demonstrate in the 45 provinces of the country, on July 3 and 4, 2021 to shout their anger. And Bobolais did not remain on the sidelines of this national protest. That is why the demonstrators broke the pavement of Tiéfo Amoro Square in the governorate, in order to deliver their message to the authority of the region.

Once there, it was the high commissioner of the Houet province, Lamine Soulama, who received them. Everything that the demonstrators had refused, because they would like to be received by the governor of the Hauts-Bassins region, Antoine Atiou. But, after discussions between the spokesmen of the demonstrators and the high commissioner, the latter was able to convince them of the provincial character of the march. “This march is organized in the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso and as High Commissioner of the province, I came in this capacity,” he said.

In their statement, they do not fail to portray the “chaotic situation” in Burkina. “One month after the Solhan attack, we are gathered here to express our anger and send a strong message to those in charge of our country’s security. There is too much groping, hesitation and failure. That is why we say too much is too much. Today, more than 1,300 people are dead and more than 1.2 million internally displaced. And it is to be feared that the second term of the president will be worse than the first. (…)” , deplored the spokesperson of the demonstrators, Assita Ouattara.

This so-called silent march was an opportunity to pay homage to the martyrs and to implore God’s mercy. Also, through the voice of their spokesperson, the demonstrators call on the government to take strong measures to bring peace and security to Burkina Faso. They believe that without these two elements, no development action is possible.

Moreover, in view of the urgency on the ground, the demonstrators call for the consequent endowment of the SDF with adequate equipment, the establishment of a fund to help the internally displaced. They insist on the operationalization of a mechanism to accompany the widows and orphans of the fallen SDF on the battlefield and a better management of soldiers on the ground.

With this statement, the opposition reiterates its readiness to discuss all issues related to the security of Burkina and calls for the urgent organization of the security assizes.The High Commissioner, Lamine Soulama, said that he had taken note of their demands, but promised to pass them on to those who were entitled to them.

The Bobo-Dioulasso march was organized by opposition political parties and civil society organizations (CSOs). A minute of silence was observed for the memory of the victims.

Source: Lefaso.net/ By Romuald Dofini