Yearbook 2006
Burkina Faso. The aggressive form of bird flu, H5N1,
spread throughout the year to several African countries,
including Burkina Faso. In April, the first three cases were
found on a bird farm just outside the capital Ouagadougou.
Later, the infection was discovered in several places,
usually in small chicken farms that many people need to get
food or extra income. The authorities made every effort to
stop the spread of infection, but there was a great lack of
resources. The UN official coordinating the UN's efforts to
stop the spread of the virus said that the poor African
countries needed more money and advice.
According to
CountryAAH, three soldiers and two police officers were killed during
clashes between police and military in Ouagadougou the days
before Christmas. The brawl began with a soldier being shot
dead by police in connection with a check in a roadblock.
During the shootings that followed, several civilians were
also injured. The unrest forced the government to postpone
two summits that would have been held in the capital. Police
were ordered away from the streets and guards fled from
prisons, causing hundreds of prisoners to escape. After
talks between police and military chiefs, the conflict could
be rescinded after a few days.
About 300,000 children were threatened by starvation in
the Sahel area, which extends to northern Burkina Faso.
Although the 2006 crop was quite good, chronic food
shortages prevailed due to three decades of drought. The UN
had a hard time raising the SEK 670 million. which they have
appealed to save the children. In northern Burkina Faso, the
authorities also closed several water sources since arsenic
contamination was discovered.
Burkese writer and professor Joseph Ki-Zerbo died in
December, aged 84 years. He was one of Africa's foremost
historians and for many years the leader of the opposition
in the country. In 1997 he received the "Alternate Nobel
Prize", the Right Livelihood Award.
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