Tuesday's protests....

Well, the rallies, protests and demonstrations around Burkina today drew a lot of attention from many world news sites.......

France24, BBC, and even ABC and the Washington Post all reported on today's activity.

With us living downtown, near the epicenter of the action, it was pretty loud this morning as thousands and thousands of people made their way down to the center of town for a planned rally at a large square just a block away from the U.N. Circle.

From our home to the point of rally this morning and the center of the activity is 1.7km or roughly 1 mile.

Very very close.

The rally was planned by the opposition and drew hundreds of thousands of people ( and a lot of police) all blowing horns and whistles and shouting, chanting, singing, and honking for change....it made quite the commotion while we were attempting to sleep in since Isaak didn't have to go to work today.

Here's a picture of the square that I took a while ago on our way through town, there was a small gathering taking place this day. 

(photo courtesy from news.aouaga.com) Here's the square today. Filled with people! Some reported a million people present downtown this morning, but I find that number unlikely, although never underestimate Africans abilities to squeeze a million people into a parking lot meant for ten. They can do it. Seriously, only in Africa, and India maybe...

(photo courtesy from news.aouaga.com) 

"Blaise Compaore is our worst ebola, the people are in danger, disinfect us!"

Comparing Compaore to ebola....clever, and comical. 

Isaak ventured out this morning for a walk a few blocks from our home and came upon a large crowd in the "marche de la revolution" as they called it. All very peaceful. Just lots of marching and chanting. 

Honestly, the main demonstration this morning were a very peaceful event. They had permission to march down the streets they were on, and were granted permission to rally at the square. The vast majority of the people who showed up today in support of Blaise stepping down from power came with every intent to make their voices heard in a loud, but ultimately peaceful way.

 (these two photos courtesy from news.aouaga.com)

Unfortunately, some people spoiled the plans to keep the protests as peaceful as possible without having to involve the police when they decided to start barricading roads and burning tires and trees and threatening to move towards the Parliament building. The police were forced to tear gas groups of people to help restore order.

The picture on the right is the parking lot I park in to walk across the street to a little alleyway next to that Shell gas station to get to Nuance Galerie, my favorite little shop in town. Today it was the scene of something very different.

Here is a picture I took of the U.N. Circle a few Saturdays ago on our way home from Yako. If you drive straight through the light and drive down the road just a little ways and turn right into the trees up ahead, that's my neighborhood.

(two photos courtesy of news.aouaga.com) 
Here is the U.N. Circle this morning after some protesting got out of hand.

Very different scenes unfolding in Burkina right now, and not just in our capital, but all over the country as people take to the streets to push back against their desire to see change take effect in the government. Prayerfully, the rest of the week's planned demonstrations will remain peaceful and there will be no further clashes with the police. I love Burkina (most days). I adore the Burkinabé people and I want to see stability reign here no matter what the vote on Thursday decides.

Only time will tell I suppose. No matter what though, it's a very interesting time to be living in West Africa. Between the ebola epidemic ravaging our close neighboring countries and the political instability unfolding in Burkina, there is a lot of history being written for this part of the world. And we are seated very close to it all.....

In closing...this was on our way home this afternoon as we drove through someone trying to set up a road block at the end of our street. Umm, seriously? That is quite possibly the saddest road block ever. I drive over dirt roads worst than that!