Fatshimetry
In the tumult of anti-Western and anti-United Nations demonstrations currently shaking the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, a prominent figure in pan-African activism, in the person of Kemi Seba, traveled to the country to meet the leader of the junta, Ibrahim Traoré, and supporters of his cause.
Accused of promoting Russian policy on the African continent and in French-speaking countries, Kemi Seba defended himself during a press conference. He said: “To the Russian authorities, I declared that if Russia makes the same mistake as France by wanting to reproduce neocolonial patterns in Africa, we will fight against Russia.” He also affirmed his opposition to the brandishing of the Russian flag during demonstrations in Africa, stressing that this would constitute a humiliation for Africans and a lack of dignity.
However, the planned meeting attended by Kemi Seba in Ouagadougou was ultimately canceled, leaving many young people disenchanted. Some young participants, like Kader Zongo, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the event, highlighting the wait of several hours for nothing.
Despite Kemi Seba’s pan-African speech, many Burkinabè remain skeptical about the concrete impact of such interventions on the daily reality of the country’s young people. The quest for a better future pushes many young people to risk their lives to reach Europe, due to a lack of prospects offered locally.
African leaders are being called upon to offer opportunities to young people and encourage them to stay in their country. The call is launched to invest in programs aimed at promoting local employment, developing agriculture – a key sector for a large part of the Burkinabe population – and fighting corruption and favoritism within state institutions.
It is time for the authorities to act in favor of real sovereignty for African nations, in order to restore hope and perspectives to young people looking for opportunities in their own country. The desire for change must not remain just a speech, but materialize through tangible and lasting actions in favor of the well-being and development of African citizens.