International Pastoralism Day was celebrated on 17 June in Burkina Faso. The event was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Livestock and organised by the Multisectoral Platform on Land (PMAF). With Tin Hinan participation, WAMIP members Saoudata Aboubacrine and Rahmatou Diallo attended the event, which brought together government officials, technical partners and pastoralist organisations to discuss issues currently affecting pastoralism and mobility.

This was a particularly significant event given the current state of pastoralism in Burkina Faso. Around 3.2 million people in the country depend on pastoralism for their livelihoods, accounting for 40% of the workforce and 4.1% of the gross domestic product. However, land is shrinking and conflicts are on the rise. Besides, pastoralism is still under an outdated law from 2002. During the event, as part of the MobilityMatters campaign, pastoralist organisations called for greater protection of pastoralists’ rights to land and mobility, fair access to justice, and the drafting of legislation to address the challenges posed by climate change, insecurity and land dispossesion. 

WAMIP stands in solidarity with the herders of Burkina Faso in their call to sustain pastoralism and mobility as ways of life.