Burkina Faso: une marche contre la stigmatisation des Peuls à Fada N’Gourma https://t.co/hI0OSK24We pic.twitter.com/YhlC0GdYQx
— RFI (@RFI) June 13, 2020
Peaceful Assembly
Protest against insecurity
According to RFI, between 700 and 1000 people marched in Fada N’Gourma, eastern Burkina Faso, on 13th June 2020, against abuses against the population, in particular the Fulani community, and insecurity in eastern Burkina Faso. Protesters say that the civilian 'homeland defense volunteers' units, set up by the government in the fight against terrorist attacks, were targeting and stigmatising mainly members of the Fulani community. Protesters wanted to deliver a memorandum to the local authorities, but were prevented from doing so by security forces. The protest was banned, due to the measures taken by the government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic that temporarily ban public gatherings and protests.
Market vendors protest for the reopening of markets
On 27th April 2020, vendors of several markets in Ouagadougou protested to demand the reopening of the markets. The markets were closed as part of government measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. One day later, vendors of the Dassagho market blocked the national road RN4 for the same reason. Vendors said that the market was supposed to re-open on 20th April, but the closure was recently extended 'until further notice'. On 29th April 2020, the mayor of Ouagadougou issued an order reopening 27 markets in the capital. Previously on 20th April 2020, the largest market in Ouagadougou, Rood-Woko, was reopened after three weeks of closure.
Expression
Political analyst and writer Lionel Bilgo said he has been subject to an act of intimidation as he found a Kalashnikov bullet in front of his door when he went to open the door as someone rang, on 24th May 2020. The police opened an investigation but the perpetrators or reasons for the act remain unknown. Just two months earlier, Bilgo launched his book called 'Burkina Faso : Du rêve à l’action, créons demain' (Burkina Faso: from dream to action, let us create tomorrow'), calling for a 'political transmission' from the older to the younger generation, and calling for more political engagement from the youth in the country.