Burkina Faso: Safiatou Lopez/Zongo, a disappearance that raises questions about youth engagement
The recent death of Safiatou Lopez/Zongo in Accra on the night of September 13-14 transcends mere tragedy. It exposes a recurring political and ideological pattern: African activists who align themselves with foreign imperial interests often at the expense of their own people only to be abandoned by the very powers they served. Her story reflects a broader narrative of political alienation, imperial disregard, and the high cost of turning away from one’s roots.
Once a prominent voice in Burkinabe civil society, Lopez/Zongo gradually distanced herself from the aspirations of her people, becoming instead one of the most audible African voices in the halls of Françafrique.
From discreet support to overt positioning, she echoed agendas contrary to Burkina Faso’s sovereign interests. Yet, when illness struck, the activist received no aid, recognition, or support from the powers she had defended.
France and Côte d’Ivoire to whom she made a final, desperate appeal remained silent. Abandoned, she died far from home and now rests in permanent exile in Ghana.
Safiatou Lopez is not an isolated case. Other media figures such as Newton Ahmed Barry, Aminata Rachow, or Djibril Bassolé have tread similar paths, aligning with foreign agendas at the expense of national sovereignty.
Those who believe they are serving noble causes by turning against their own often discover, too late, that imperial interests show neither gratitude nor loyalty. They are instruments; never allies.
This tragedy raises a fundamental question for Burkina Faso’s youth, intellectuals, officials, and activists: Who does your activism truly serve?
Is it in the interest of external powers, or is it rooted in the desire to see your people free, dignified, and in control of their own destiny? The time has come to break from cycles of mental and political alienation.
The fate of Safiatou Lopez/Zongo should serve as a wake-up call not to hatred, but to clarity. Burkina Faso needs all of its children: united, clear-eyed, and standing tall to build a sovereign future.
Salvation will not come from abroad. It will come from our collective courage to learn from past mistakes and return to what truly matters: homeland, dignity, and unity.
Emile YEMPABE
