Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - It seems that the military protest is returning to normality in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso (see Fides 04/15/2011), after President Blaise Compaoré dissolved the government, fired the Chief of Staff and placed payment of compensation to the Presidential Guard. About 300-400 traders from Ouagadougou , however, took to the streets to protest the damages. "I went to the centre of Ouagadougou early in the morning and saw some traders in agitation, it was the beginning of their demonstration. In fact, the population is not happy after yesterday's incidents, which caused extensive damage. We have seen shops ransacked and vehicles set alight”, a missionary source tells Fides.
"They heard more shots in the night, but now, at least from this point of view, the situation has improved” , continued our source. We ask our speaker if, in his opinion, the example of the Arab Revolt has been extended to Burkina Faso. "I do not think so, even if it is true that in recent weeks, in recent months, there have been several demonstrations: from the military, students, trade unions. No one has explicitly called for the resignation of the President, however, the demonstrators have asked for the resignation of some ministers. And since yesterday, the Head of State dissolved the government, I believe the situation will calm down. "
"Everybody says that the real problem is the revision of the Constitution to limit the President`s terms of office. It does not explicitly asked the President to resign, but asks him not to candidate himself at the next election”, says a source of Fides. "The rising cost of living are associated to all the recent protests. Even the military protested yesterday because they have not received what was promised in terms of premium pay and housing. So we have an economic-financial problem , which is translated into a social problem”, concluded the speaker of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/04/2011)
