Ouagadougou: The Bobo-Dioulasso Detention and Correction Center (MACB) celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day, also known as the '72 Hours of the Prisoner', from July 16 to 18, 2026. These three days of activities were marked by awareness sessions, cleaning and sanitation operations, free medical consultations for prisoners, as well as sports, recreational, artistic, and cultural activities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was themed "Contribution of agricultural penitentiary centers to the vocational training of prisoners and to the achievement of food self-sufficiency: challenges and perspectives". This celebration aimed to promote the values of human dignity, social reintegration, solidarity, and social cohesion, dear to Nelson Mandela.
Presiding over the ceremony, the Governor of the Guiriko region, Mariama Konat/Gnanou, questioned the former prisoners about their commitment to changing their lives after their reintegration into society. To this question, the detainees unanimously responded in the affirmative. The Governor commissioned the organization of this celebration and the mobilization of administrative, judicial, and traditional authorities, as well as partners. "I commend the organization of this day and the joint presence of the authorities, which testifies to our constantly renewed commitment to a more just and humane society, resolutely focused on the endogenous development of our country, Burkina Faso," she stated.
Further emphasizing the theme, the Governor highlighted the vision of Comrade Captain Ibrahim Traor, President of Faso, Head of State, who is transforming penitentiary establishments into spaces for training, production, and reintegration. "Inmates are thus called upon to acquire useful skills and contribute to national development through agricultural prison centers, labor-intensive projects, and other community development initiatives," she noted. "Long live vocational training so that nourishing self-sufficiency may flourish. May the spirit of commitment, courage, and exemplary citizenship of Nelson Mandela dwell within each and every one of us," she declared.
According to the director of MACB, Comrade Efrem Modeste Ky, the inmates are not only cultivating the land, but also their future. "The goal is to enable each of them to perform actions useful to the community. The inmates participated in activities such as clearing debris from the Pala University Hospital and the Governor's office. When you are isolated from society, prejudices abound. Thanks to these days, the population was able to see that the inmates are capable of making a positive contribution to the community," he stated.
This celebration is part of the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrated every July 18 in tribute to the former South African president, whose commitment to peace, justice, human dignity, and reconciliation continues to inspire people around the world.