Koulp©logo: The administrative and municipal authorities of Yargatenga launched, this Wednesday in Cinkans©, an awareness and clearing operation of the rights of way of National Route No. 16 (RN16), with the aim of strengthening the safety of users and improving traffic conditions on this very busy road.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the operation was led by the President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the Yargatenga commune, following a large-scale awareness campaign conducted among the population. For several weeks, the authorities organized information sessions, educational talks, and broadcast radio announcements to encourage occupants to voluntarily vacate the affected areas.
The mission mobilized defense and security forces, including elements of the gendarmerie and the police. The brigade commanders of the Cinkans© and Yargatenga gendarmerie brigades, as well as the police commissioner of Cinkans©, accompanied the municipal authorities throughout the operation.
Officials reported that numerous shops, sheds, and other structures have been built on road rights-of-way, sometimes extending right up to power lines. This encroachment on public space reduces the width of the roadway, obstructs traffic, and exposes road users to risks such as traffic accidents and electrocution.
During the operation, the prefect invited the occupants to support the approach taken by the authorities, emphasizing that collective security remains the primary motivation for this operation.
The Chief of the gendarmerie brigade in Yargatenga, Comrade Souleymane Ouattara, noted that these installations obstruct free movement and compromise the visibility of road signs, increasing the risk of accidents.
The head of the Cinkans© gendarmerie brigade, Issa Ouattara, highlighted the dangers of occupying spaces under power lines, stating that such practices pose threats to both the occupants and the entire population.
Following the discussions, several occupants began dismantling their structures under the supervision of security forces. As the AIB team left the site, operations to clear the occupied areas continued along the RN16 highway, demonstrating a spirit of cooperation between the authorities and the affected communities.