U.S. Embassy Update

Since I've signed up for the State Department's STEP program, I receive emails from the US Embassy. If you are interested in signing up, just Google search: State Department STEP. Schools are closed nationwide all week, so I'll be finishing up my site analysis report and just generally getting to know my site better!

U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Security Message for U.S. Citizens:

Reminder National Day of Protest and Additional Demonstrations

October 28, 2014

The U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso reminds U.S. citizens of the upcoming demonstrations planned in downtown Ouagadougou October 27 – 30.

The U.S. Embassy will remain open during this period.  

Planned Demonstrations:

October 28 at 8:00 am: The political opposition plans to hold a day of protest to commence its “civil disobedience campaign.”  The march will likely proceed along the following route:  Place de la Nation-Avenue Gamel Addel Nasser-Avenue Monseigneur Joanny Thevenoud-Avenue de la Cathédrale-Avenue Kwame N’Krumah-UN Plaza, and back to Place de la Nation.  In Bobo-Dioulasso, a rally will commence at 8:00 am at the Place Tiefo Amoror (Station Square) and proceed to City Hall.  Additionally, the opposition calls for the closure of Burkinabe government facilities, commercial establishments, and schools. 

October 29 at 6:00 am: The Coalition Contre la Vie Chere (Coalition Against a High Cost of Living) or the political opposition hold a march and gathering in downtown Ouagadougou

October 30: The National Assembly will reportedly vote on the proposed constitutional change.  The opposition has called for a sit-down strike surrounding the National Assembly building to block voting members from casting their vote.

The U.S. Embassy anticipates additional spontaneous demonstrations will occur with little to no advanced warning throughout Burkina Faso until a resolution is reached.  Additional organized events are also expected.

It is reasonable to expect large demonstrations similar to those supported by the opposition in January and July 2014.  The National Police have increased patrols and established fixed positions throughout Ouagadougou to enable a shorter response time to spontaneous demonstrations.

The U.S. Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to maintain situational awareness and exercise good judgment.  The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.  Please remember, even demonstrations or marches intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  Be alert and remain aware of your surroundings.  Stay informed and abreast of local media reports.

The closure of roads and businesses associated with the “civil disobedience campaign” may limit the purchase of supplies.  The U.S. Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to stock enough food, potable water, and other essential supplies at your home for your entire family.

Update on Burkina Faso's Politics

We've been receiving security texts more often about avoiding the big cities in case of protests. October 28 has been decided to be an official day of protest. No volunteers are to travel to the big cities that weekend. Here's an update on what's going on from Reuters, with the link below:

"(Reuters) - Opposition parties in Burkina Faso called on Wednesday for nationwide protests against moves to lift a two-term limit on the presidency, accusing President Blaise Compaore of preparing a "constitutional coup d'etat".

In power for over 27 years, Compaore has positioned himself as a senior regional mediator and his landlocked country is an important base for Western counter-terrorism operations in West Africa. However, the referendum plan has split his nation.

Opposition leader Zephirin Diabre urged people across Burkina Faso to close market stalls and walk out of private and public sector jobs on Oct. 28 to launch a civil disobedience campaign to prevent a referendum being organized.

There were pockets of unrest in the capital Ouagadougou late on Tuesday after the government said it would submit a bill for parliament to call a referendum on constitutional changes to allow the president to stand for re-election next year.

The streets were calm during the day on Wednesday. But as night fell protesters, most of them young men, set up makeshift barricades, blocking several of the city's main thoroughfares before police negotiated an end to the protests in the early hours of Thursday morning.

"Twenty-seven years in power is too much. What you haven't done in 27 years, are you going to be able to do it in five more years?" said one protester, asking not to be named.

There is concern that other leaders in West and Central Africa may be tempted to seek constitutional changes to prolong their mandates in the coming years, and events in Burkina Faso are being closely watched abroad.

"The government is in the process of carrying out a constitutional coup d'etat," Diabre told a news conference, flanked by leaders of Burkina Faso's main opposition parties.

"Burkina Faso's political opposition reiterates its rejection of a referendum," Diabre said. He accused the government of preparing to pay off members of the National Assembly to vote in favor of a referendum.

A government spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The government has not yet said when it will table the bill in the assembly, where it needs a simple majority to pass.

Compaore has not publicly said he wants to stand for re-election but his party has. The proposed constitutional revision has raised political tensions in the cotton- and gold-producing nation of 17 million people, living on the edge of the Sahara.

Compaore, who took power in a 1987 military coup, won 81 percent of the vote in the last election in 2010 but was confronted by protests by the usually loyal military in 2011. Dozens of members of his party have defected to the opposition this year, underscoring the potential for crisis.

(Writing by David Lewis and Joe Bavier; Editing by Daniel Flynn/Ruth Pitchford)"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/23/us-burkina-politics-idUSKCN0IC11120141023