| In Burkina Faso, as in other countries of the Sahel and West Africa, the plight of the Fulani, traditional cattle-breeders is becoming increasingly problematic. The population of Burkina doubles every 25 years, so much so that we could say that space is shrinking. Conflict between cattle breeders and farmers is increasing. Communities clash and men are killed, as in the south of the country a short time ago. In Nigeria, as the cattle breeders are mainly Muslim and the farmers Christian, the media spoke of a religious war. The situation is serious. It has reached such a climax that the Burkina Faso Minister of Livestock Resources is not slow to write, “Traditional cattle breeders risk disappearing altogether as conditions are increasingly difficult to have access to pasture and land for cultivation.” (Action Plan and Investment Programme for Cattle-raising Sector – in short: PAPISE -. Revision Draft - November 2004). Indeed, if nothing is done, traditional breeders, the Fulani, are in danger of disappearing. Now, it is possible to do something. In the same document, we read: “In virtue of its strategic character, milk represents the proper product to serve as a lever for the transformation of systems of production (especially bovine) and the standard of living of pastoral populations.” Then further on, “The dairy industry, although uncompetitive due to initial subsidies now benefiting imported dairy products, nonetheless remains viable and strategic for Burkina Faso.” Milk concentrate (sweetened and non-sweetened) and especially powdered milk come into Burkina Faso freely, just as in the eight countries of the UEMOA (Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa), and very nearly without customs duty (the ‘TEC’ – Common Exterior Tariff – of the UEMOA fixes customs duty at 5 %). In this way, due to the subsidies and lack of protection, a litre of reconstituted European milk (from imported milk powder) comes to 200 F (0,30 €), whereas a litre of locally produced milk sells for 300 F or 350 F (about 0,50 €). This explains why most yoghurt sold in Ouagadougou is either directly imported or made from imported milk powder! Traditional cattle breeders cannot manage to sell their milk and are not interested in going from one intensive farming method to another. This situation could radically change. For that to happen we need to outline 4 conditions: 1. Governments must demonstrate proof of more lucidity and especially more political nerve in defending their own peoples. 2. European subsidies on exported products must cease or be ‘deleted’ by exportation taxes. 3. CEDEAO countries (Economic Community of West African States) must impose much greater customs duties on sensitive products (such as milk and rice) than those defined by the UEMOA TEC. It is feasible. However, once again, there is need to demonstrate proof of political nerve by resisting pressure from the EU (European Union), the WTO (World Trade Organisation) IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank. 4. Corruption at the level of customs controls should not be allowed to negate the effects of this new legislation. This is the price to pay to avoid the foreseeable disappearance of traditional cattle breeders presently subject to the death-dealing rules of international commerce. From this comes the title of this bulletin: “Are we going to stand by powerlessly watching the ‘ethnocide’, even genocide, of the Fulani, traditional cattle breeders?” I spoke of ethnocide and genocide. I consulted my dictionary: 1) ‘Ethnocide’ n. Destruction of an ethnic group on the cultural plane: ‘ethnocide’ of Amerindians often led to turning them into down-and-outs. The ‘ethnocide’ has begun. This week I was in Ouagadougou. I went to the Ouagadougou neighbourhood of Hamdalaye and I went round the mosque. Beggars surrounded it: they were Fulani. This is what happens to men who have only one activity: breeding cattle, and who are thus bewildered and unemployable in towns. Last Saturday, in the middle of Ouagadougou, just before getting into my car to go home to Koudougou, I was accosted by a beggar asking for a handout: he was a Fulani. 2) Genocide: Crime committed with the intention of destroying a human, national, ethnic, racial or religious group. That has not yet begun. However, there are no indications that we will be able to prevent it. In town even now, in a good number of surroundings, we hear all sorts of disapproving clichés about Fulani. Almost all the dairies in Ouagadougou collect their milk from modern breeders. These are business enterprise people who have created a modern farm with intensive breeding methods. Traditional breeders are often systematically excluded from the collection for different motives. Tension is mounting in rural areas. It is not exceptional for a Fulani deprived of good pasture to allow his herd to eat the harvest of a farmer before it is gathered and safely stored. When there is due process of law, the producer is not guaranteed justice. At the end of the day, the farmers are aggravated and take revenge on any and all the Fulani in the area. So the conflicts increase. Up to now the administration has succeeded in keeping the lid on things, but up to what point? When we consider what happened in Rwanda, we cannot understand how men could have committed such atrocities. I sincerely hope that in 10 or 20 years time we will not have to ask ourselves what happened to the Fulani in Burkina or in any other country of the Sahel. Above all, I would invite African government leaders, the World Bank and the IMF, the European Union and the WTO, the Organisation of Farmers North and South, the NGOs of International Solidarity, and religious communities, to demonstrate proof of clear thinking and political nerve and allow countries of the Sahel to recover their foodstuffs autonomy. Then it will be possible to avoid new crises. History will judge us on what we have done, but also on what we have not done! Maurice Oudet
Koudougou, 16th January 2005 | 
View of the South