In Burkina Faso, a restless burial ceremony for the 36 gendarmes killed in Inata
Audio 01:31
A patrol of gendarmes in Burkina Faso (illustrative image).
AFP PHOTO / SIA KAMBOU
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Burkina Faso, 36 gendarmes out of the 53 killed in Inata in the province of Soum on November 14, were buried on Tuesday, November 23.
A tense ceremony with the anger of the relatives of the victims who denounced the quality of the graves.
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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Yaya Boudani
Early in the morning, the families and friends of the
soldiers killed in the attack on the Inata gendarmerie detachment
went to the municipal cemetery of Gounghin in Ouagadougou.
These families said they were shocked by the quality of the graves.
They had therefore decided to prevent the burials and to recover the remains to offer them "
correct
"
burials
.
But after a few hours of delay, the burial was done under an important security device.
"
Someone who has gone to die with dignity for his country, in really deplorable conditions, is he going to come and rest in really poor conditions like that?" If they knew that they were not going to be able to dig them well, we had to call the families, we would have dug better than that
”, indignant this relative. “
These aren't graves, that. It is unacceptable, it is unacceptable,
”denounces another.
From then on, an exchange began between the protesters and the officer in charge of securing the ceremony.
After heated discussions, the tension finally subsided.
It was three hours late that the 36 coffins covered with the national flag arrived at the cemetery where an important security device had been put in place.
It is together that the parents, friends, protesters and brothers in arms proceeded to the burial.
Lack of food
But the quality of the graves were not the only reason for dissatisfaction on Tuesday.
The families call on the military hierarchy and the government for better care for soldiers fighting against terrorism.
Awa Yabré's older brother was part of the mission in Inata where the latter lost his life.
Coming to the burial, Awa and her friend Fati do not hide their anger: “
Their mission had been over for two months, they added another month.
They were hungry.
They launched an SOS to get food.
The SOS were received, but they did not remove any food.
It hurts badly.
"
Issa Santi, friend and neighbor of one of the deceased gendarmes, asks the government to look more into the situation of the soldiers at the front: “
Given the unfolding of the tragedy, we are really downcast.
When we see that the children are sacrificing themselves for the nation and that behind there is no consistent support, it really hurts the heart.
"
Thirty-six gendarmes were buried.
The process of identifying other victims is underway, according to government spokesperson
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Burkina Faso
Terrorism