Will Burkina Faso's protests catch fire like Egypt, Tunisia?
Like other sub-Saharan African countries such as Uganda, Burkina Faso鈥檚 government seems nervous about the possibility of a protest movement gaining steam.
As observers watch to see how strongly the protest movements in North Africa will affect politics in sub-Saharan Africa, Burkina Faso has proven to be a test case for the relationship between local grievances and regional politics. A nascent protest movement there seems to stem largely from the country鈥檚 own internal conflicts, but as events progress I will be watching to see whether Burkinabe protesters are taking cues from their peers in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere.
So far, Burkina Faso鈥檚 protesters 鈥� largely students 鈥� seem simply to want accountability from the country鈥檚 security forces. On Feb. 20, a student named Justin Zongo died in police custody. Protests broke out, and during clashes with police. Largely spread throughout the country:
Demonstrations took places in Koudougou, Fada N鈥橤ourma, Tougan and Sabou, said Chrizogone Zougmore, president of the Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights, by phone [on March 9].
In Ouahigouya, in the north of the country, students and residents destroyed police and other government offices, according to Emile Bayala, a resident who spoke by phone. Viviane Compaore, governor of the North region, said in a phone interview she was under military protection after the offices were destroyed.
As in other sub-Saharan African countries like Ethiopia and Uganda, Burkina Faso鈥檚 government appears nervous about the possibility of a protest movement gaining steam. The response has been serious. This Monday, 鈥渙rdered all universities to be closed鈥� and also cut social services provided to students.鈥� Perhaps the country鈥檚 rulers hope to snuff out the movement before it articulates a larger set of political complaints, especially ones directed at long-time President Blaise Compaore. If the protests continue and if they escalate into demands for the fall of Compaore鈥檚 regime, then I think it will be legitimate to talk about an Egypt-style movement in Burkina Faso.
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鈥� Alex Thurston is a PhD student studying Islam in Africa at Northwestern University and blogs at .