Burkina Faso Mourns the Loss of Dr. Arsène Bognéssan YéNewborn Rescued from Abandoned Well in Kombissiri
OUAGADOUGOU – Burkina Faso paid tribute to the late Dr. Arsène Bognéssan Yé, former president of the Assembly of People’s Deputies (ADP), recognizing him as a visionary and committed leader. Dr. Yé passed away on January 30 in Morocco at the age of 67.
According to Burkina Information Agency, president of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT), during a ceremony in Ouagadougou, Dr. Yé’s leadership was marked by his commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and development across Burkina Faso. Dr. Bougouma highlighted Dr. Yé’s role in initiating and supporting numerous reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening the nation’s institutions, democracy, justice, education, health, environment, economy, and security. Dr. Yé was praised for his dedication to the interests and aspirations of the Burkinabè people, both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Yé’s legacy includes serving as the ADP president from 1992 to 1997, Minister of State at the presidency, and Minister of State for Agriculture from January 1999 to October 1999. His funeral was attended by notable figures including the Prime Minister, Dr. Apollinaire Joachimsom Kyélem de Tambèla, former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, and other distinguished guests. Dr. Yé’s contributions to Burkina Faso were celebrated as embodying probity, humility, dedication, and patriotism, serving as an inspiration to many.
KOMBISSIRI – In a dramatic rescue operation, local residents of Kombissiri saved a newborn female baby from an abandoned well on Saturday, as confirmed by eyewitness accounts to the Agence d’Information du Burkina (AIB). The well, located near the municipal slaughterhouse in the Nintenga district, became the site of an urgent rescue after children passing by heard the baby’s cries and alerted the community.
According to Burkina Information Agency, a butcher from the slaughterhouse who wished to remain anonymous, the alarm was raised in the afternoon of Saturday, February 3, 2024, when children heard the distressing sounds emanating from the well and quickly informed nearby residents. The community responded swiftly, calling upon security services and the provincial management responsible for the Bazèga family for assistance.
Vincent Zabré, an agent from the family and childhood service of the provincial directorate in charge of the Bazèga family, reported that upon arrival at the scene, the baby’s cries could be clearly heard from the bottom of the well, estimated to be between 50 and 60 meters deep. A courageous local resident volunteered to descend into the well with the help of a rope held by others at the surface. The rescuer was able to retrieve the baby, who was found alive, wrapped in a plastic bag and placed inside a cardboard box at the bottom of the well.
The newborn, still covered in blood and with the umbilical cord intact, was immediately taken to the maternity ward of the medical center with a surgical branch (CMA) in Kombissiri. Following initial treatment, the baby was transferred to a hospital center in Ouagadougou for further care. Officials from the provincial department in charge of the family have confirmed that the baby is in good health and is currently being looked after by the social services of the hospital center in Ouagadougou.
Local residents believe that the baby, who was rescued around 7 pm on Saturday, February 3, was likely abandoned by her mother during the night of February 2 to 3. Vincent Zabré stated that security services are actively investigating to identify and locate the person responsible for abandoning the newborn.