The populations of the rural commune of Namissiguima, forced into exile because of insecurity, have found a hospitable welcome in Kaya, 80 km further. Organized around their special delegation, these resilient populations carry out small activities to get by, while placing their trust in the Fighting Forces for a return home as soon as possible.Namissiguima, the beautiful rural commune located in the Sanmatenga province, North-Central region, is located approximately 80 kilometers from the town of Kaya. It remains one of the most resilient localities in this context of security and humanitarian crisis. Nearly 16,000 souls from the commune were forced to leave their land to find themselves in Kaya and the surrounding area. With their Prefect and President of the Special Delegation, Alpha Ouattara, the sacrifice of serving the internally displaced and host populations with the minimum is done with enthusiasm and patriotism.Thursday July 11, 2024, day of the 2nd ordinary session of the special delegation of the commune of Namissiguima. The cramped room used as a secretariat is transformed into a meeting room. Around twenty chairs are arranged. From 8:30 a.m., some members of the special delegation arrive. The atmosphere before the session is marked by conviviality. 'I hope everything is going well,' asks a member of the representative of customary and traditional chiefdom, who responds in the affirmative. At 9 a.m., the session begins with welcoming words from the President of the Special Delegation, Alpha Ouattara. Then the quorum check. The quorum having been reached, the President presented the agenda, which was adopted by the delegates.The agenda was structured around the following points: reading and amendment of the previous session devoted to the examination and adoption of the first amending budget, the vote of two committee presidents and miscellaneous. The exchanges are interactive and participatory. Unanimously, the committee chairs are voted on.The contribution to the peace effort was a point of debate. 'I strongly invite you to call on the daughters and sons of Namissiguima so that they contribute to the peace effort and social cohesion, the basis of lasting peace. In 2 years, we collected the sum of 20,000 F. It was a nearly 70-year-old from the village who, last year, gave 10,000 F and, this year again, to our great astonishment, is income with the same amount to support the municipality. I would like, given his efforts, and on your behalf, to give him a certificate of recognition from the municipality,' informs the President of the Special Delegation.The establishment of civil status documents, the main source of revenueThe last terrorist attack in July 2022 forced all the populations of the commune of Namissiguima to flee their land. Appointed by the Council of Ministers on August 3, 2022, then officially installed on the 19th of the same month, the President of the Special Delegation took steps to obtain a building in the town of Kaya serving as an office for the town hall services while aw aiting a incessant return to his locality under terrorist influence. With his agents, he works hard to provide basic social services to the displaced populations of Namissiguima in Kaya. However, the budget is low. From 81 million as an annual budget, the municipality finds itself today with less than 30 million FCFA in its own revenue. These revenues consist essentially of inactive values ??(stamps) used in the establishment of civil status certificates (birth, marriage, death certificates, various certificates, etc.).'When it comes to collections, it's not magic, but it's not simple. The Namissiguima commune's own revenues were based on market rights, felling taxes, aggregates, carts, civil status,' recalls Mamadou Ouédraogo, collector of the Namissiguima commune. The State certainly has funds for the functioning of the municipalities, but Namissiguima hopes to resettle as quickly as possible to further contribute to the influence of the communities.A resilient population, women who are active in income -generating activitiesMamounata Sawadogo arrived in Kaya in August 2022 with her 7 children. Very quickly, she integrated into the community and began selling 'zoom koom'. Its main clients: the populations of Namissiguima. Every day, she goes to the town hall to offer her juices. The idea of ??encouraging active women comes from the President of the special delegation. 'We try to be the first customers and consumers of what these women offer. Whether it's zoom koom, soumbala, peanuts, we buy with them and invite others to do so,' says Alpha Ouattara.Solange Ouédraogo, president of the simplified cooperative society Neb La Taaba, continues to praise the Prefect for this initiative. 'The Prefect there, we ourselves don't know how we're going to thank him. He is very human. Whether in encouraging our activities or in sharing food, he does not forget anyone,' she testifies. In sector 5 of Kaya, where she works with around ten women, they produce soumbala, moringa and peanut pastes.Respect for traditional le aders is also a value promoted by the first manager of the Namissiguima commune. Member of the Special Delegation, Naaba Balbou expresses her gratitude for the resilience and commitment of the Prefect to unite the populations. 'We don't know when we will return home, but with the Prefect and the other authorities, we also feel at home in Kaya. We are considered and taken into account in the management of communities,' he adds.A few villages resettled, fewer and fewer alerts, hope is emerging'A glimmer of hope,' notes with satisfaction the President of the special delegation from the commune of Namissiguima. Fewer and fewer alerts of terrorist attacks in the area, some villages have been resettled. For now in Kaya, Alpha Ouattara says he is still close to his population. 'We cannot say that everything is rosy, but the population remains resilient. The women are in income-generating activities and the young people are mostly in small organizations which allow them to survive on a daily basis. We try to carr y out mobilization activities like sport (football),' he informs.Regarding education, all the students of Namissiguima and their teachers were redeployed to establishments in Kaya. 'Last year, we initiated support and remediation courses for certain students during the holidays and for the start of the school year, we hope, with the authorization of the first education officials at Kaya, to open a site with a few classes for our students who will not have space in the establishments, while waiting for our resettlement to be effective,' hopes the Prefect. However, in terms of health, resources remain limited. The only actions are the integrated management of children's illnesses and some awareness-raising and educational talks.Mutual aid between municipalities: Namissiguima, Dablo, Pissila, Pibaoré, Kaya, Boussouma and others, examples of patriotismWithin the framework of humanitarian aid, through the sharing of food or even certain administrative matters, the displaced and host communities support each other. In 2023, recalls Prefect Alpha Ouattara, the commune of Piboaré had benefited from SONAGESS food. 'The PDS thought of the commune of Namissiguima by offering around ten tonnes of food to be made available to our population. It is the same for the municipality of Dablo which is also thinking of us,' he informs.Although being a displaced commune, Namissiguima contributes to the development of communities, notably through the facilitation of the establishment of civil status documents. 'Many citizens, whether from Namissiguima center or villages in the commune of Namissiguima, go to the town hall to benefit from state services,' explains the social action service agent.Namissiguima has hope and Namissiguima has faithThe security and humanitarian crisis remains a reality, recognizes Prefect Alpha Ouattara, who nevertheless does not lose hope. 'We have faith in our authorities, our defense and security forces, and the volunteers for the defense of the homeland who work for resettlements and keeping po pulations there. Gradually, some villages are being resettled. We hope that by then, Namissiguima's turn will arrive,' hopes the President of the Special Delegation.Our wish, he continues, is a total end to this war. Hope and faith are there according to Alpha Ouattara who salutes the vision and commitment of the President of Faso, Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, for the total sovereignty of Burkina and the complete reconquest of our lands.Source: Burkina Information Agency
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