Burkina Faso: Call to Youth for Increased Civility and Patriotism
The situation facing Burkina Faso calls upon all sons and daughters of this country, particularly the youth. For reasons of their own, the youth show a contempt, not explicitly stated, towards the state apparatus, a situation that worries the «La Jeunesse Solidaire»(LJS) association.
In seeking a solution, «La Jeunesse Solidaire» organized a conference on Saturday, November 25, 2023, in Bobo-Dioulasso to reflect on the contribution of youth in the reconquest of the national territory, themed: «What contribution do integrity, civic-mindedness, and patriotism of youth make in the reconquest of the territory»? The association aims to open this debate because Burkina Faso has been facing a security and humanitarian crisis for several years, jeopardizing its peace and social cohesion.
In response to this crisis, several actions are being taken by the country’s authorities to combat terrorism and reclaim the integrity of the national territory. This fight involves all actors, especially the youth, who constitute the majority of Burkinabè citizens.
From all perspectives, this battle cannot be won if the youth do not actively participate. Today, the youth are asked to demonstrate civility and patriotism in their daily actions. They must understand that reclaiming the national territory cannot be achieved if the guidelines set by the state are not respected, or if actions contrary to these guidelines are taken instead.
For instance, some young people spend their time on social media platforms, rather than making statements that could encourage the security forces on the ground; they engage in disrespectful, non-constructive, and irrelevant remarks.
Therefore, it is time for the youth to understand that the battle fought by the defense and security forces is of national interest and consequently should be supported by the entire population to hope for comprehensive victory.
