Diapaga, Burkina Faso – A large gathering of residents in Diapaga assembled on Saturday to insist on the return of local authorities who have been relocated to Fada N’Gourma since the onset of a crisis, causing an administrative standstill in the province of Tapoa. Protesters carried signs that read, “Tapoa orphaned by its authorities” and “We demand the immediate return of our Haut-commissioner, prefects, directors and department heads.”

According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, the decision to hold this demonstration was made on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, after a meeting in the Diapaga town hall’s conference room. Multiple attempts to reach the authorities had previously failed, leading to the decision to proceed with the march. The community gave a one-week ultimatum to the displaced authorities to return, warning that failure to do so would lead to their disavowal by the populace.

Residents specifically lamented the disruption in the issuance of administrative documents due to the absence of these officials. An appeal was also made to the President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, urging him to take robust measures to facilitate the safe return of these administrative authorities to Diapaga.