Seven incidents of political intolerance were reported in seven locations in Burkina Faso prior to national elections, including tearing down of campaign posters, hate speech, and threats of violence. Tensions were high, especially in areas considered strongholds for different political parties. Growing partisanship of traditional leaders and inflammatory rhetoric from opinion leaders further increased the risk of clashes. Lack of respect for political party codes of conduct and ineffective communication between stakeholders also raised the likelihood of violence unless addressed.

1. NEWS SITUATION TRACKING OF BURKINA FASO ELECTIONS
Vol. 2
Location: Leraba (Cascades), Reo (Sanguie-Centre Ouest), Dedougou (Mouhoun -Boucle Du Mouhoun)
Diebougou (Bougouriba-Sud Ouest), Pouytenga (Kouritenga- Centre Est), Zorgho (Gansourgou -Plateau
Central), Manga (Zoundweogo-Centre Sud)
Issue: Challenges around the electioneering process
Date: November 12-20, 2015
COMMUNITY PROFILING CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS INCIDENT PROFILING
Population:
Leraba (Total Population: 124,422;
Total number of registered voters:
46,341-app.percentage of voters to
population-37%)
Reo (Total Population: unspecified;
Total number of registered voters:
24,565)
Dedougou (Total Population: 38,862;
Total number of registered voters:
35,348-app.percentage of voters to
population-91%)
Diebougou (Total Population:
35,047; Total number of registered
voters: 18,896-app.percentage of
voters to population-54%)
Pouytenga (Total Population:
45,061; Total number of registered
voters: 33,993-app.percentage of
voters to population-75%)
Zorgho (Total Population:
unspecified; Total number of
registered voters: 21,668)
Manga (Total Population: 22,943;
Total number of registered voters:
14,529-app.percentage of voters to
population-63%)
Ref: CENI, Wikipedia (2006-2014)
Basic Demography and Geography
of Hotspots:
Leraba: This is a province in Cascade
region and a low risk area for
political violence. It is a border town
to Cote d’Ivoire. Major ethnic group
is the Senoufo. They are also found
in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire. The
Direct Actors: Movement du
Peuple Pour le Progress (Peoples
Movement for Progress) MPP,
Union for Progress and Change-
UPC, Congress for Democracy
and Progress-CDP, Municipal
authorities, Provincial CENI,
Traditional leaders in hotspot
areas
Affected Persons: community
members, youth groups, Citizens
Interested Actors: Electoral
Commission (CENI), Ministry of
Territorial Administration and
decentralization, Civil Society
groups, Commission for National
Reconciliation and Reforms
(CNRR), religious leaders, media
owners in hotspot areas.
Seven incidents were reported and observed by WANEP
National Early Warning System in seven areas comprising three
hotspots, three medium risk and one low risk area of Burkina
Faso. The incidences profiled focused on the growing level of
political intolerance, alleged financial abuse/manipulation, hate
speeches/inciting languages and tearing of party posters.
At Lebara, there was report of tearing of posters belonging to
UPC by suspected supporter of MPP on November 18. It led to
confrontation with the UPC supporters who threatened to kill
him or any opposition supporter caught destroying their
posters.
Community members at Reo were reported to express anger
and intolerance to the campaign of CDP in their town on
November 17. In Diebougou, one of the ministers of Mogho
Naba, “Larle Naba” was alleged to express statements that it is
the right of Mossi to rule. He was reported to distribute money
to people in the mosque on November 20, insisting that they
vote for a Mossi presidential candidate. Also in Deibougou, the
UPC expressed their concern over the violation of the code of
good conduct by other political parties who were pasting their
posters in unauthorized sites. They have made their complaint
to the provincial CENI president and threatened to disregard
the code if the violations were not addressed.
At Dedougou, some youth supporters of MPP have been
reported to threaten violence in Burkina Faso if their candidate
was not elected. This is despite cautions against inflammatory
statements by the leadership of MPP.
Supporters of CDP at Pouytenga, have remained intolerant of
other parties. They have been reported to threaten other
parties, which has forced these parties to seek alternative
campaign rallies and meetings at Koupela to avoid violence and
physical harm on their supporters. A famous community

2. Lobi ethnic group is also found in this
province.
Reo: it is a town in the province of
Sanguie at the Centre Ouest region.
Noted as a medium risk area,
bordered by Dedougou to the west,
Koudougou to the east and Yako to
the North. These surrounding areas
are considered hotspots and
therefore have significant influence
and impact to the possibility of
political violence in Reo during the
2015 general elections. Major ethnic
groups include the Gourounsi, Bissa
and the Mossi.
Dedougou: This is a town located in
the province of Mouhoun at the
Boucle Du Mouhoun region. It is also
in close proximity to Kossi, a border
town between Burkina Faso and
Mali. It is a one of the hotspot areas
of political violence and considered a
place of close monitoring in the lead
up to the general elections of 2015.
Major ethnic group in this area is
Bobo. Other ethnic groups include
Marka, Samo, Dagara and Senoufo.
Diebougou: it is a town bordering
Bobo Dioulasso to the west.
Considered a hotspot of political
violence, its major ethnic group is
the Lobi. Minor ethnic groups
include the Dagara and the Fulani.
Pouytenga: It is considered a
medium risk area. It is located in
Kouritenga province of Centre Est
region. It is bordered by Zorgho in
the west and Koupela in the south.
The Mossi are the major ethnic
group and constitute about 90% of
the total population.
Zorgho: It is located in Gansourgou
province at the Plateau Central
region. Bordered by Ouagadougou at
the west and Kouritenga province at
the east, it is a hotspot of political
violence as witnessed during the
2014 uprising.
Manga: The town is located in
Zoundweogo province of Centre-Sud
region. The Mossi constitute
majority ethnic group in this area
broadcaster called Idrissa Legros (Big Idrissa) who owns a
community radio called Baoneere Radio, has been arrested by
the authorities for inciting statements through his radio station.
Religious leaders in the area have called all parties for dialogue
to reduce tension and improve relationship.
In Zorgho, there were reported tearing of posters of opposition
parties by MPP supporters. At Manga there are reports of hate
speeches and intolerance between supporters of UPC and MPP.
There is also increasing tension over struggle for space to paste
their campaign posters in designated sites.
The growing levels of intolerance among political party
supporters have implications for violent confrontation as the
campaigns intensify especially in areas considered as
strongholds for specific parties. Despite the electoral code and
the code of good conduct signed by all political parties, loyalists
and youth supporters of these parties do not respect the
mandate of equal access and opportunities for all parties. This
has the tendency of increasing tensions and possible violence in
the lead up to the November 29 elections. Confrontations
between political parties and community members especially in
hotspots areas can trigger violence that impact negatively in
the conduct of elections within affected regions and the
country.
The growing partisanship of traditional leaderships has the
tendency of compromising the credibility and cultural integrity
of these leaders to serve as rallying points for community
dispute management especially the threats posed by
confrontations among indigenes who are loyal or support
various political parties within the community.
Bellicose language of hate speeches from opinion leaders is a
significant threat to peaceful conduct of upcoming elections
within affected communities and beyond. As gatekeepers their
statements are trusted and acted upon by followers. Therefore
the continuous negative expression will escalate from
intolerance to violent confrontations.
Lack of respect and disregard for effective communication
between political parties, CENI and the community members
during campaigns raises the tendency of misunderstanding and
violent confrontations especially in hotpot areas.
The abuse of media ethics and the lack of regulation of media
broadcasts that incite to violence has far reaching effect
beyond the elections to sustained political and ethnic violence
with implication to the stability of democracy in Burkina Faso
Situation Tracking is a periodic analytical report designed by WANEP through its National Early
Warning System (NEWS) to monitor the changing trends of specific conflict threat as civil society
support to peace and security in Burkina Faso
2

3. with Bissa from neighbouring Ghana
making up the minority group. It is a
medium risk area.
Politics:
Leraba: The town was formerly a
stronghold of the CDP but MPP has
gained significant followership and
foothold. A former Minister of
Communication in ex President
Blaise Compaore government, Alain
Edward Traore hails from this area.
Reo: Due to its close proximity to
koudougou, it suffers from ‘spill
over’ effect of the political violence
in the area. During the 2014 uprising
the mobilization effort from
Koudougou also influenced protest
and support from youths in Reo.
Dedougou: It is a low-medium risk
area that experienced
demonstrations and blockades
during the 2014 revolution. It is also
the base for the army from where
they were deployed to
Ougagdougou following the coup of
September 16, 2015.
Diebougou: The town is known
politically to be in opposition and
anti establishment which sometimes
is expressed in violence. In 2013,
violent demonstrations against the
prefect of the province led to the
burning of the Metropolitan
Assembly and the residence of the
prefect. During the 2014 uprising,
properties and public utilities were
destroyed by protesting youths. It
has mixed influence of all political
parties. It is the hometown of
Tahirou Barey, (a Fulani) the
presidential candidate of PAREN
party.
Pouytenga: This is a CDP stronghold
and the hometown of former
Minister of energy, Lamoussa
Kabore. They are strongly opposed
to other political parties especially
indigenes who are currently
members of the MPP or candidates
under that platform.
Zorgho: It is known as a stronghold
Situation Tracking is a periodic analytical report designed by WANEP through its National Early
Warning System (NEWS) to monitor the changing trends of specific conflict threat as civil society
support to peace and security in Burkina Faso
3

4. of the MPP and also the town of
Presidential candidate, Roch Marc
Christian Kabore.
Manga: The town has a shared
influence between the UPC and
MPP.
OPPORTUNITIES/RECOMMENDATIONS
• Regular peer review meetings conducted by municipality authorities to offer
opportunity by political parties to review compliance to the code of conduct and
the electoral code is encouraged.
• The electoral code should be strictly enforced by the Ministry of Territorial
Administration
• Members of the NEWS steering committee such as PDEV, WANEP, CENI,
Diakonia and the Ministry of Territorial Administration can consider the need for
the development of information, education and communication components
that further strengthen the knowledge of youths in provinces of the electoral
code and non violence to mitigate the manipulation of youths in violence in the
lead up to the elections.
• The need to conduct interaction forum for national and provincial media on non-
violence communication/reporting to encourage responsive information
dissemination and reduce sensational reporting likely to trigger violence before
and during election.
• CSOs are encouraged to organize town hall meetings between various parties,
the chiefs, community members and municipality officials at the provinces to
enhance platforms for information sharing, feedback and collaborative
responses to threats likely to escalate violence in the lead up to the election.
• Religious institutions need to promote peace messages and enlightenment
through their platforms to discourage violence within communities.
• Political parties are encouraged to conduct sensitization on non-violence and
responsible communication for their supporters and members at every meeting
in the lead up to the November 29 elections.
Situation Tracking is a periodic analytical report designed by WANEP through its National Early
Warning System (NEWS) to monitor the changing trends of specific conflict threat as civil society
support to peace and security in Burkina Faso
4