Burkinabe authorities vow to support gold miners expelled from Guinea

Expelled from Guinea for illegal gold mining activities, thousands of Burkina Faso miners are coming home. After a long journey back to Burkina Faso, they reach the transit hub of Bobo Dioulasso before returning to their communities. I don't know what to say. We don't object to being expelled. But stripping us of our belongings is unacceptable. Not only were we expelled, but our gold and money were also taken away. Some of their own citizens lost their lives in the process. We weren't given any prior warning. They simply came and gave us a 24-hour ultimatum. I am very happy to be a part of this movement. A traumatic experience, but they're now hoping for a fresh start at home. Once we return to our communities, some of us could join the volunteers for the defense of the homeland. Others could take up livestock farming. That's how you call them. We're therefore asking the authorities to support us in these efforts. It's a lot of work. The Burkina Faso government has announced plans to give the returning miners access to education, vocational training, and professional reintegration programs. I'm trying to get a vision. The authority's vision is for young people to be trained in skilled trades. For our compatriots returning home, this is an opportunity to acquire practical skills so that we can contribute to the development of our country. According to the National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation, more than 37,000 Burkina Faso nationals, including some 8,000 children, have been repatriated from Guinea to Burkina Faso.