Selv om der næsten er gået et år siden uroligheder brød ud i landet, oplever observatører og analytikere at der, på trods af nogen fremskridt, stadig er konflikter
OUAGADOUGOU, 19. september, 2012 (IRIN): Stability in Burkina Faso is vital for regional stability, said a Western diplomat, given the recent conflict in Ivory Coast and the current situation in Mali.
In April 2011, discontent from soldiers over salaries turned into mutinies in five cities – the capital Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Tenkodogo, Kaya and Po. Some members of Compaoré’s presidential guard also took part, opening fire inside the presidential compound in Ouagadougou.
President Compaoré responded harshly to mutineers: he took direct control of the Ministry of Defence; dismissed several important high-ranking officers, and appointed a new army chief of staff. Over 300 soldiers were arrested and a further 600 removed from the ranks.
The president also met some of the soldiers’ demands, giving them bonuses for housing and food, though the amounts are unclear. But the problems were not fully resolved, say analysts. The 300 detained soldiers still await trial, and a significant number of weapons that were seized during the military crackdown are still freely circulating.
“This unsolved crisis is a ticking bomb. Until the issue is fully settled, the mutineers could get out again”, says a Western diplomat.
Civilians took to the streets several times in 2011 and 2012 to protest against the high cost of living, and what they perceive as corruption and impunity in government ranks.
Compaoré has made attempts to tackle the latter, sacking several high-ranking officials on corruption allegations, among them Customs Director Ousmane Guiro and Minister of Justice Jérome Traoré, but despite these and other measures, faith in the integrity of the government remains very low, Ouagadougou residents told IRIN.
Rising prices
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