BurkinaFaso_2“Having heard of the uprisings in Burkina Faso, I telephoned the focolarini in Bobo-Dioulasso for some news, and to assure them of my prayers and unity. I spoke with Dominique who assured me that the situation is tense, but calm,” writes Augusto Parody Reyes, Spanish medical doctor who spent 24 years in Africa and now works at the Focolare’s International Centre.

Here is a brief description of the constantly evolving situation as reported by the Missionary Service News Agency (MISNA). Recently, in Ougadougou and other major cities there were unprecedented protest marches to block the nomination in the 2015 elections of President Blaise Compaore who has been in power from 1987. But the protests in the capital worsened on October 30th continuing in the afternoon after an assault and the burning of the parliament. Local news sources reported at least one dead in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. There were also reports of lootings of shops and banks. In the afternoon, the demonstrators also surrounded the Presidential headquarters.

Proclamation of a state of emergency, dissolution of the government and appeal for negotiations with the demonstrators were the key elements of a radio message given by the Head of State following hours of disorder and violence in the heart of Ouagadougou.

Then it was learnt that president Blaise Compaore had not resigned and had cancelled the national state of emergency which was declared a few hours earlier. Those latest measures were announced in a television speech by the president. The president’s statements added further confusion to an already complicated and uncertain situation.

It is currently uncertain who holds power in the capital city of Ouagadougou. A few hours earlier the chief of staff of the armed forces had made it known that the “executive and legislative powers would be entrusted to a transitional body that would be constituted through consultation among all the active forces of the nation.” Moreover, the goal of the transition would be “the return to constitutional order within 12 months.” The military also declared a national cease-fire between 19:00 and 6:00. This was the situation on October 30th which is continually developing. Meanwhile the president resigned and his whereabouts are unknown. The military has divided in two groups: the army and the presidential guard, each with its own leader.      

Focolare members in Burkina Faso say that they felt expressed in the appeal made by Cardinal Paul Ouedraogo bishop of Bobo Dioulasso and president of Caritas Burkina Faso: “We are praying for peace. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to limit the damage during this critical period for our country.”

Updated November 3, 2014

3 Comments

  • Carissimi focolarini e tutti, viviamo e offriamo tutto per voi. La madonna vi coprirà col suo manto e vi proteggerà. Preghiamo anche che finisca questo período de violenza, klesi – M.Ginetta

  • Orar, orar y orar por la paz incesantemente como nos pide en estos tiempos nuestra madre Maria de Medjugorje. Son muchos los focos de inestabilidad en todo el mundo. Solo la oracion al Padre y Senor de la vida puede ser eficiente para traer justicia y bienestar a tantas partes del mundo. Hermanitos oro por ustedes. (Cubana en Panama)

  • Comme nous vous comprenons ,nous auLiban !!! Désormais je vous prends das ma prière ! Bon courage ! N’oublions pas que Dieu est le maître de l’Histoire et Il est à l’oeuvre même si nous ne “voyons” pas ….

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