Ouagadougou, December 3, 2023 (AIB) – The Burkinabè government has expressed its admiration for the late Yacouba Sawadogo, an environmentalist who dedicated half a century to combating desertification, following his passing on Sunday.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the government expressed its sorrow over the loss of Sawadogo, who passed away in Ouahigouya on December 3, 2023. The government recognized him as a visionary and a man of action, commending his successful efforts to halt the encroachment of the desert.
The government acknowledged Sawadogo’s life as one of utility, resilience, commitment, combativeness, and perseverance in the battle against desertification. Known as “the man who stopped the desert,” Sawadogo was celebrated for his work in reclaiming degraded land and reforesting a 27-hectare area in Ouahigouya, transforming it into a forest.
Sawadogo’s efforts, which earned him the United Nations’ “Champion of the Earth” distinction in 2020, the organization’s most prestigious environmental award, were highlighted as inspirational for current and future generations. The government emphasized the importance of individual and collective responsibility in environmental preservation.
The government extended its deepest condolences to Sawadogo’s family and expressed hope that he rests in peace in the free land of Burkina Faso, a land he tirelessly worked to restore.
The statement was issued in Ouagadougou on December 3, 2023, by the spokesperson for the Burkinabe government.
Keetmanshoop, Namibia – The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in Keetmanshoop is awaiting the Prosecutor General’s decision on whether to prosecute a local businessman following an alleged shooting incident. The event reportedly occurred on Saturday at the businessman’s shebeen in the Tseiblaagte residential area.
According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), NamPol’s crime investigations coordinator for the ||Kharas region, the incident happened between 11:00 and 12:30 on Saturday. The businessman is accused of shooting Jamie Afrikaner, 27, in the neck and Tangeni Alweendo, 31, in the left leg, leading to two charges of attempted murder. While Afrikaner has been discharged after treatment at Keetmanshoop hospital, Alweendo is expected to be transferred to Windhoek for further medical care. Deputy Commissioner Mbango detailed that the incident allegedly followed threats against the businessman at another of his bars and a subsequent altercation at the police station. The shooting reportedly occurred in self-defense after the businessman was attacked by the two men. The businessman subsequently reported himself to the police and filed a case against Alweendo and Afrikaner for violation of peace, assault by threatening, and trespassing. The police are also waiting for the Prosecutor General’s decision on whether to arrest
and charge Alweendo and Afrikaner. Deputy Commissioner Mbango added that the two men allegedly shot are part of the Hosh-Hosh gang, which has been threatening the businessman’s family and his life.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.