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On June 17, 2024, in an atmosphere of sacrifice, the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) celebrated Eid al-Adha, commonly known as Tabaski. Eid al-Adha is also a day of solidarity between families and communities, followers of different religions, agnostics, polytheists and the most vulnerable. But for the first time, we see a unity among the heads of a family, recognizing their economic helplessness, in the face of the rising price of the sheep, the animal symbol of Eid al-Adha.
This is the context of the current fragility of economic and social policies, and any social movement can be explosive. On June 5, 2024, in Bamako, Mr. Hamadoun Bah, Secretary General of Synabef, was arrested by the court for forgery and use of forged money, which led to the suspension of bankers, insurance companies, service operators, etc.
On June 10, 2024, a week before the ad celebrations, Mr. Ba was released by the court under pressure from the unions. In essence, his release was an important alliance sequence in the balance of power. This gave the understanding that citizens have the right to challenge the president, deputies, mayors, politicians, etc., in their desire for a free and viable society. Although the crisis is over, some people in Bamako are still without sheep due to lack of purchasing power.
Safety, turning the circle into a square
Faced with purchasing power difficulties, executives try to be blameless. Faced with believers driven by religious fervor, leaders keep a low profile. They are reinforcing gestures of solidarity. If the poorest benefit from it, all the better! How can we not remember that one of the roles of the state is to regulate the market for the stability of the economic system? The day before the festival, at the Garbal, the price of a festival sheep varies between 300,000 and 500,000 francs. A month before the party, the amount does not exceed 150,000 CFA francs.
When the power of money reigns supreme, citizens suffocate. No rolling barricades! How can we hide the fact that price freedom contrasts with the social and economic suffering of the people? In the Sahel, economic and social life live in two very different worlds. Yet speeches of forgiveness, Bambara, Songhay are everywhere, full of rich themes such as security sovereignty. But the problem of security remains.
Bloody Tuesday
Mansila, Sahel (Burkina Faso), AD takes place in mourning and sorrow. This Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Ansarul Islam launched a catastrophic attack on a detachment of the Burkinab Mansila Defense and Security Forces, killing more than a hundred people. Bloody Tuesday is reminiscent of previous massacres. On November 14, 2021, an attack by Ansarul Islam Inata (Sahel) killed about 50 people, mainly gendarmes. On November 21, 2021, another narco-terrorist attack in Fulbou (North-Central) killed 9 gendarmes and 10 civilians. Plot summary: On January 24, 2022, the regime of President Roch Marc Christian Kabor was overthrown by a coup by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandogo Damiba. Among them, Damiba will be overthrown by captain Ibrahim Traoré on September 30, 2022.
These regimes have faltered in their attempts to resist the outbreak of the drug-terror fever. But let us return to Mansira, where the lack of official communication has allowed all imaginations to run wild. In fact, the silence of the Burkinabe authorities has caused trouble. First, the lack of immediate comment by the Burkinabe head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traor, suggests that the situation is out of control. Second, upon closer scrutiny, some Burkinabés see this as a sign of indifference to the families of the deceased. Third, the Burkinabe administration gives the impression that it is sacrificing people on the altar of power; this usually has a repelling effect on public opinion. Fourth, the massacre in Mansira will mark Traor’s transition. Finally, he urges us to ask ourselves whether we want to take an all-military approach to Burkina Faso’s security crisis, as has been done elsewhere.
Citizen Mobilization Program
In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, people’s daily lives are filled with anxiety and uncertainty, while Christian, Muslim and traditional festivals must give meaning to their lives. These festivals are important moments of joy, smiles and happiness that violent elements try to cover up. Let’s reject it. Today, all that is needed is a voluntary citizen mobilization plan to act together against the terror of stigmatization and narco-terrorists. Neither the legality trials against politicians, nor the hasty detention of citizens, nor fake news can replace our ability to live better together. Therefore, without the hysteria of public spaces, our collective wisdom needs to reconnect us to the expectations of justice, food, peace, health, education, etc. Of course, we can criticize the fragility of democratic systems under presidents such as Alpha Oumar Konar, Amadou Toumani Touré, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Mohamed Issoufou, Mohamed Bazoum or Roch Marc Christian Cabor. But nothing can stop us from speaking openly about the lack of security and freedom. The same is true for organizing democratic elections to restore constitutional order. There is no doubt that today is not the day to repeat the same mistakes.
We can’t succeed in everything.
Sign of the times: Bamako, 20 June 2024 Several leaders of the signatory parties of 31 March 2024 have been arrested for disturbing public order. Governance failures? The parties that signed on 31 March denounced the dictatorship. In any case, relations are strained. Although the stakes are elsewhere: to unite the Malians to act and win the fight against narco-terrorism. Between the daily violence of narco-terrorist groups and the inability of the state to achieve peace, there remains a democratic system that, whatever its weaknesses, allows us to better cope with chaos and mismanagement. In simple terms, it is through exchanges that the diversity of ideas and projects is politically translated towards peace and development. We will try our best, we will not succeed in everything. But the visit of Assimi Gota of Mali to Ibrahim Traor of Burkina Faso on 26 June 2024 should also be an opportunity for the two heads of state to review their desire to restore a new order, that is, the return of civilians to power.
This morning’s questions:
How can we work towards sustainable democratic political institutions in the Sahel?
Mohammed Amara
Sociologist
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