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Country: Burkina Faso

Council: Economic and Social Council
Agenda: Implications of the Arab Spring in Africa
Since its inception in 2010 the Arab Spring has had a wide spread impact not only on the Middle East but
also in North and Western Africa. The spark generated in Tunisia now threatens to engulf all of Africa
into an inevitable state of war unless there is a profound change in the current system of administration.
Rising from public dissent due to lack of freedom, disparity in income, power distance between rulers
and followers, suppression of human rights, rising prices of food and other essentials the Arab Spring
has led to a wave of protests in Africa which has led to the present state of social and political instability,
to the point that countries like Sudan and Mali are going through civil war.
For years the African community had struggled through ethnic clashes, military coups, poverty, diseases,
natural calamities and numerous obstacles as well as the more pressing concern of a rapidly growing
population. Despite such adverse conditions most countries within the region have managed to grow
economically in larger or smaller degrees. This advancement can be credited military style leadership of
the past and current rulers. Recent advancements in education, information and technology have
allowed the population to grow into a more conscious body. Following the Tunisian uprising the African
population are no longer content to be led by their autocratic leader and want a greater say in the
future of their country and in the betterment of their lives. Protests and rallies have been held before
but did not yield positive results. Drastic Measures must be taken, and taken soon.
The government of Burkina Faso believes that we are at a turning point in the history of Africa. The Arab
Spring has brought about a wind of change, and it is up to the ruling leaders to take this opportunity and
make a change for the better. While many countries have gone headfirst into war following the Arab
Spring there are but a few who have seen the warning and brought about a positive change into their
governments. Unlike the Middle East, Africa for the most part comprises of poorer countries with a
weak economy and an equally weak infrastructure. We are poor nations struggling to survive amidst the
challenges of the 21
st
century. Any social or political disorder is a major threat to the advancement of
our already shaky economy.
Burkina Faso, along with most of the countries affected by the Arab Spring of 2010, shows some
common features. We have managed to provide our population with education but failed to provide
them employment. As a result of urban migration, youth are moving away from the agricultural life in
the rural areas to the cities in search of more stable and better paying jobs creating father pressure.
With a growing population the youth population and hence the level of unemployment continues to
grow every day. So far the Government under the Chamber of Commerce and Industries has undertaken
many projects to facilitate trade and employment opportunities. Public and private investments in gold
mining and Tertiary sectors have helped to create a number of jobs. In addition the government is in the
process of improving the existing infrastructure and building better modes of transport and
communication to facilitate employment. Also in recent years the government has facilitated work
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opportunities for women, which in countries like Burkina Faso with a majority of Muslims is a highly
debated issue.
However ongoing conflict in Africa, especially neighboring countries like Mali and Ivory Coast pose a
severe problem. Especially refugee mobilization from warring nations poses a rising threat to the already
burdened economies. The foreign investment is at an all-time low and trade and commerce is suffering
heavily. Burkina Faso proposes a collaboration of African community through councils like the ECOWAS,
OHADA etc. to promote peace and development, in addition to a Global Developmental Partnership.
This adheres to one of the principles of establishment for the ECOSOC to actualize the millennium
development goals, one of them being the formation of developmental partnerships. For the
development, reform and rehabilitation of our educational, financial and economic institutions we ask
for both financial aid and co-operation from our donors and patrons. Furthermore in light of the
Development Cooperation Forum, 2012 we call for the reinstatement of a mutual accountability
mechanism, to be monitored by the African Development Bank, World Bank and other international
institutions to increase the accountability of the participants. We also propose an imminent
requirement of a regional dialogue, one that will engage all stakeholders of the Arab Spring to
collectively discuss policies to tackle reform and rehabilitation. This is congruent with the South-South
model of the ECOSOCs DCF, which encourages collective initiative from nations to tackle regional
problems.
Co-operation from international organizations like UN, ILO and the local African community is essential
to the development of our human capital and road mapping the path to sustainable development. We
look towards our neighbor Ghana, for inspiration in social and political development along with gracing
its presence in our dialogue. Naturally, most nations do not face the urgency or the cumulative effect of
the situation at hand and this is where the ECOSOC acts as an ideal platform to raise this issue. Through
the strong network of UN agencies and the diversity of nations in its membership portfolio, the ECOSOC
and its DCF may well help provide the assistance, connect global stakeholders and engage them to
address this issue. The problem may be local for now but its effects could very well be felt beyond the
boundaries in which it arises. As our nations origins dictate, we are Burkina, the men of integrity
and it is in our best interests to contribute to solving this regional crisis as efficiently as possible.
Name: Noushin Wadud Khan
Institution: IBA, University of Dhaka
Email ID: noushin_khan@hotmail.com