This weekend there was a horrible attack where 32 people lost their lives in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Above is a quick slide show I did back in 2005 of my visit to Burkina Faso & Ghana.
Here some of the news reports:
Newsweek
Burkina Faso Capital Security Tightens After Jihadi Attack
New York Times-3 hours agoOUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — In the wake of a weekend attack that killed up to 32 people, The state beefed up security across Burkina Faso’s Burkina Faso and Mali to Collaborate Against Militancy
Newsweek-1 hour ago, Missionary killed in the Burkina Faso attack was mourned by family in the South.
Sun Sentinel-6 hours ago Burkina Faso attack: Al-Qaeda’ names’ hotel attackers.
BBC News-2 hours ago, the US condemned attacks in Burkina Faso
Opinion-Jerusalem Post Israel News-22 hours ago Burkina Faso kidnapping: children’s despair for Ken and Joceyln Elliott
Blog-The Australian (blog)-5 hours ago
Sun Sentinel
BBC News
The EconomistThe Australian (blog)
US News & World ReportExplore in depth
(1,223 more articles)
I thought I would take this blog to give you some of what I learned while in Burkina Faso.
I was there just ten years ago. I don’t think I know any of those killed directly, but I do know many of those I worked with that month in 2005 were most likely affected by this terrorist attack.
One of the oldest Mosques in Burkina Faso which is located in the downtown of Bobo-Dioulasso. Believed to have been built in the early 1880s. Religions in Burkina Faso are Muslim 61.6%, Catholic 23.2%, traditional/animist 7.3%, Protestant 6.7%, other/no answer 0.2%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
Coffee is almost exclusively instant coffee (Nescafe is the usual brand). One of the region’s finest institutions (found mainly in French-speaking countries) are the coffee stalls where clients sit on small benches around a table and drink glasses of Nescafe mixed with sweetened condensed milk.
Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming, and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. As a result, cotton and gold are Burkina Faso’s key exports, and Burkina Faso’s economic growth and revenue depend on global prices for the two commodities.
In 2014 Burkina Faso was ranked 124th in the world economy, right behind Chad and just above Equatorial Guinea.
Ethnic Groups are Mossi 52.5%, Fulani 8.4%, Gurma 6.8%, Bobo 4.8%, Gurunsi 4.5%, Senufo 4.4%, Bissa 3.9%, Lobi 2.5%, Dagara 2.4%, Tuareg/Bella 1.9%, Dioula 0.8%, unspecified/no answer 0.1%, other 7% (2010 est.)
Most of the shepherds herding cattle are Fulani as this young boy is above.
I am about a mile from the Ivory Coast border, and those swimming here are the Senara tribe.