Burkina Faso: A foreseeable eruption

A million protesters. A burning parliament. A military coup d’état. 

Alienation and frustration in Burkina Faso simmered under the surface for years, until things finally erupted this week. Now is not only the time for reflection, but for progressive, inclusive dialogue and action.    

Burkina Faso has faced its share of challenges over the course of the past few decades. Drought and desertification have hampered the development of this small but resilient nation, surrounded by countries perennially on the brink of a crisis.  Nonetheless, Burkina Faso remained a beacon of relative stability in a sea of growing uncertainty.  While religious extremism ravaged Mali, Burkina Faso remained an example of peaceful co-existence. While ethnic, political, and geographic divisions roared through Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso remained unified.

{mosads}However, beneath a calm surface, the stifled aspirations of an ambitious and desperate youth smoldered.  Young people of diverse faiths witnessed the slow death of the crops and livestock that provided sustenance to uncountable generations before them.  Pushed by rampant urbanization, youth abandoned the countryside and put their hopes and aspirations behind central authority. Support for President Compaoré continued to grow. Facing increasing challenges and lack of opportunities, Burkinabe youth put their support behind the power in place, promising change.  

However, 27 years have passed, while resources have diminished and promises have been left unfulfilled. While few opportunities came their way, slowly, frustrations of the population began to churn.  The past years saw these frustrations erupt in various ways. A once loyal military began to protest their discontent, and opposition began to rise in power and political sway.  While the 2015 elections were once an approaching possibility for change, that milestone blasted full speed ahead with a largely controversial proposition from the executive to extend the 27-year-rule for another 15 years.  

On Oct. 28, what began as an opposition led movement to protest a vote in the National Assembly that would extend presidential term limits quickly turned into to a youth driven expression of overall frustration.  The National Assembly, political party offices, and homes of politicians were quickly burned to the ground.  While this may have come as a surprise to political powers, as the Burkinabe proverb goes, ‘he who rides on a donkey’s back doesn’t know that the ground is burning hot.’ As youth set fire to the establishment, political turmoil has transcended into a chaotic grapple for the reins of power that will in one way or another, determine the short and long term destiny of this once calm desert nation.  In a period of days, the country has gone from a tense political situation caused by a President trying to extend his power and a youth driven expression of frustration and desperation.  While the opposition tries to remain in the driver’s seat, the military has seized power, over 20 civilians have died in the chaos, and it remains unclear what the next weeks and months will have in store for the Burkinabe people.  

The constant in all of this  is the rejection of the status quo and the thirst for change.  The question of who will drive this change, and what it will look like remains to be seen.  While young people see this as an opportunity or even their duty to take destiny into their own hands, everyday it becomes more and more visible that the thirst for change needs to be quenched with calm and unity.

 In a country where generations have prioritized peace between religions and between generations despite poverty and climate change, and political stagnation, a culture of peace and non-violence still remains engrained in the Burkinabe national spirit and identity.  This culture of peace, in which cool heads prevailed against the odds, will hopefully yet again drive the change that arrived to the doorstep this October in Burkina Faso.  While youth have much to say and are in a place to say it, taking a step back, and putting the country first, through dialogue and peaceful means, will be the ultimate path to take as youth carve the future that is now in their hands.    

Sawodogo and Ben-Achour are from Search for Common Ground, a peace and conflict organization working with young people across the Sahel and in 35 countries around the world. Sawodogo is Search for Common Ground’s youth coordinator in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Ben-Achour is team leader in Niamey, Niger.