Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OUAGADOUGOU1086
2007-12-17 14:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:  

BURKINA FASO CELEBRATES NATIONAL DAY IN GRAND STYLE FOR THE

Tags:  PGOV KDEM MASS SOCI UV 
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R 171428Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3197
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 001086 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MASS SOCI UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO CELEBRATES NATIONAL DAY IN GRAND STYLE FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS, HIGHLIGHTING COMPAORE'S STRONG GRIP ON POWER


Reftel: Ouagadougou 857

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 001086

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MASS SOCI UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO CELEBRATES NATIONAL DAY IN GRAND STYLE FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS, HIGHLIGHTING COMPAORE'S STRONG GRIP ON POWER


Reftel: Ouagadougou 857


1. (U) Key Points:

-- On December 11, Burkina Faso held an elaborate celebration
marking the 47th anniversary of its 1960 independence from France.
The festivities included a Presidential address and a huge parade
involving around 7,000 participants from Burkina Faso, including the
entire U.S.-trained "Laafi" peacekeeping battalion, as well as
military personnel from five neighboring countries.

-- The festivities marked the first time in 27 years that Burkina
Faso has celebrated its independence with fanfare, and was also the
first time since President Compaore came to power in a coup d'etat
20 years ago that he and his family appeared together in public
before a large civilian-military gathering.


2. (SBU) Key Judgments:

-- Compaore's decision to hold large national day festivities
reflects his increased confidence in his grip on power. It also
further bolstered his political position by building pride among the
Burkinabe military, and appealing to the patriotism of a citizenry
that might have otherwise focused on the December 13th, 9th
anniversary of the death of cause celebre journalist Norbert Zongo.


-- The festivities came less than two months after October 15th
celebrations marking Compaore's 20th anniversary in power that were
more contentious since they also marked the 20th anniversary of the
murder of his former friend and predecessor as President, Thomas
Sankara (reftel).

-- The presence of soldiers from five neighboring countries
highlighted Compaore's regional leadership, including in peace
mediation in Cote d'Ivoire and his current Presidency of the
Economic Community of West African States and West African Economic
and Monetary Union.

--------------
PRESIDENT COMPAORE ADDRESSES THE NATION
--------------


3. (U) In a televised address to the nation on December 10 that
kicked off the celebrations, President Compaore outlined his
regime's positive political, economic, social, and cultural
performance. In defending his record, Compaore stated that Burkina
Faso had enjoyed free and fair elections, well-run governmental
institutions, greater involvement of civil society in the political
process, and significant improvements in human rights. He also said
that, for the last decade Burkina Faso had experienced great
political stability and economic growth despite a decrease in cotton
prices and an increase in oil prices.

--------------
ELABORATE CELEBRATION
--------------


4. (U) The government of Burkina Faso earmarked 500 million CFA
(about 100,000 USD) to fund the National Day celebration this year,
according to press reports. The parade, which was the focal point
of the national day celebrations, began with music from the
Burkinabe military band and an overhead Air Force helicopter towing
a weighted Burkinabe flag. For the first time since he first came
to power in October 1987, President Compaore and his family appeared
together in public before the large civilian-military gathering.
Around 7,000 people marched in the parade, including 425 foreign
military personnel from neighboring Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali,
Niger, and Togo.


5. (U) President Compaore reviewed the troops in a procession that
included:

-- the entire ACOTA-trained "Laafi" battalion;
-- almost all GOBF ground forces, driving or towing tanks, armored
combat vehicles, land-to-land and land-to-air missiles, and
transmission/communication equipment; and;
-- flyovers by Burkinabe Air Force aircraft including two
Russian-made Mi-24 Hind helicopters.


6. (U) The three-and-a-half hour extravaganza was so lengthy that it
seemed as if every military vehicle, commercial tractor, and mobile
heavy machine available in the country had participated. There were
also marchers representing various government security and civilian
agencies including the gendarmerie, national police, fire and
rescue, and even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional
Integration.

JACKSON