Red Card
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 2014
On August 23, tens of thousands of Burkinabè gathered in Ouagadougou to protest a projected referendum to change the constitution and authorize president Blaise Compaoré to run for a fifth term. The opposition argues a referendum would incur a large financial burden on a state on the verge of bankruptcy and that the ruling party would control its outcome.
The march went forth peacefully under the surveillance of the organizers’ own security. People were urged to respect the law and not to use insulting slogans. Chanting protesters asked for the presidential seat to be freed, handed Compaoré a red card and compared him to the Ebola virus.
