Burkina: Residents of the Silmiougou reception area feel wronged by SONATUR

Feeling aggrieved by the "refusal" of the National Urban Land Development Company (SONATUR) to develop their site, residents of the Silmiougou reception area called on the authorities for help yesterday Saturday."We urge the Burkinabe authorities to seriously consider the case of SONATUR in Silmiougou so that electricity and water are not only the preserve of those who live in the cities," said the spokesperson for the residents, Issoufou Rouamba, at a press conference.In 2018, the people of Silmiougou gave 250 hectares of their land to SONATUR for the construction of cities. In return, the national urban land development company would have committed to subdividing and developing 100 hectares as a reception area to house the indigenous people, Mr. Rouamba recalled."We broke off negotiations with the Abdoul Service company because SONATUR had promised us, in the presence of the town hall of the 8th district, water, electricity, roads and gutters, before starting work on its site," he added."We are sur prised to see that SONATUR does not want to respect its 2018 commitment. In addition, it has started the electrification work on its site in disregard of the populations of Silmiougou.When we expressed our discontent, the company indicated that at the time, it had only promised two water points and the summary opening of the main axes on the network," said the representative of the populations.However, Mr. Rouamba said that the residents had agreed to give up their arable land in the hope of benefiting from amenities and being able to develop other activities thanks to water and electricity.Denouncing a "deception" and "discrimination" against them, the populations call on the current authorities to look into the issue to ensure that their rights are respecteSource: Burkina Information Agency