Police officers joined the rising wave of unrest, firing weapons and tear gas in protest of high prices, low wages, and President Blaise Compaoré’s 24-year rule. Similar protests erupted in other cities across the country, including Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city, where police fired into the air to express their frustration over poor economic conditions. The day before, merchants in Koudougou burned down several government buildings in response to a crackdown on unpaid rent in the municipal market.
Even the soldiers, Traoré’s brothers-in-arms, had reached their limit. In early April, Ouagadougou’s hot air sweltered with their anger. They torched buildings, shattered glass and shot into the night. They looted and burned the ruling Party’s offices. The metallic smell of burning fuel mixed with the unmistakable scent of scorched earth.
Even members of the elite presidential guard, usually loyal, had joined the violent protests. Their meager wages no longer enough to endure the crushing cost of living. Traoré, a low-ranking officer with little to his name, felt the same desperation. Each time he received his pay, the coins felt lighter, and the struggle heavier. The heat of frustration burned within him, matching the heat of the streets around him.
