An accident at the SOTRACO bus caused the death of a student this Wednesday morning, November 20, 2024 in the 24 sector of Bobo-Dioulasso. After this, students and scholars from the town went up to show their displeasure.
According to several sources, it was while it was circulating that the overloaded bus left the road and ended up in the scene. It was after a stampede that the student found himself under the car that was mounted on him. It was this accident that undoubtedly caused his death. On the same day, students, especially SOTRACO customers, accepted the situation.
According to Sié Joël Dah, a student at the Nazi University of Boni, who is also the deputy national secretary in charge of organizing at the office of the leadership of the federation of students and schools integrity in Burkina Faso (FESCI-BF), “this morning , around 6:30 am. , an overloaded bus left sector 24 route as usual, the students forced themselves to get on the bus so they wouldn’t be late for their classes. And unfortunately, we saw a death because the bus ran over a friend. And we went to the scene to do the observation. When we arrived, we found students mobilized on the site to show their displeasure and also show their solidarity.” And to Sié Joël Dah to say “we congratulated the students for the move to send a strong message. But before that, the National Executive Secretary, Comrade Thomas Bamouni, has already raised this issue and called on the Ministry of Management and the Director General of SOTRACO here in Bobo-Dioulasso, we have started peaceful means to the regional office of SOTRACO to inform them of the situation and wait for them to read the situation to identify sights.” The same student concluded by saying “First of all we want justice to be done for the comrade who lost his life. And let the highest authorities in the country deal with the situation this until it is resolved once and for all. Also, we want lessons to be learned from this incident so that this type of situation does not happen again.”
According to Antoine David Dah, a student in the 1st D class at Lycée Ouezzin Coulibaly, “This morning, we learned about the tragic death of a classmate after the SOTRACO accident. We express our dissatisfaction because he is a student. We feel that we are no longer safe taking these buses.” And he said “we are unhappy and frustrated. If the buses are going to come and kill us, we’d rather walk to school.” The student, in his words, wants the authorities to monitor this matter. “Also, the authorities must pay attention to technical inspections of buses to ensure that the brakes and headlights are effective,” he insists.
Adama Simboro, a student leader, says nothing else. “We ask the competent authorities to solve the bus problem for the well-being of all students,” Adama Simboro insists.
Remember that on November 18, 2024, students organized a march dissatisfied with the performance of SOTRACO.
Ben Alassane DAO
**Beyond immediate safety improvements, what structural changes are needed within SOTRACO and the broader public transportation system to ensure both student well-being and accountability in similar situations in the future?**
## World-Today News: Interview on the SOTRACO Bus Accident
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World-Today news. Today, we are discussing the tragic death of a student in Bobo-Dioulasso following an accident involving a SOTRACO bus. Joining us are two students deeply affected by this tragedy – Sié Joël Dah, Deputy National Secretary in charge of organizing at FESCI-BF, and Antoine David Dah, a student from Lycée Ouezzin Coulibaly.
**Section 1: The Accident and its Impact**
* **[To Sié Joël Dah]** Sié, your statement describes the bus being overloaded and students rushing to board. Could you elaborate on the typical conditions students face when using SOTRACO buses? Is overcrowding a frequent issue?
* **[To Antoine David Dah]** Antoine, how has this accident affected the student community at Lycée Ouezzin Coulibaly? What are the dominant emotions you and your fellow students are experiencing?
* **[To both]** What immediate actions, if any, were taken by SOTRACO or school authorities in the aftermath of the Accident?
**Section 2: Demands for Accountability and Safety**
* **[To Sié Joël Dah]** Sié, FESCI-BF has been vocal about addressing SOTRACO’s performance. What specific demands have you made to the Ministry of Management and the SOTRACO Director General?
* **[To Antoine David Dah]** Antoine, you mentioned feeling unsafe taking SOTRACO buses. What concrete measures would you like to see implemented to ensure student safety on public transportation?
**Section 3: Systemic Issues and Long-Term Solutions**
* **[To both]** This accident follows a student march expressing dissatisfaction with SOTRACO just days earlier. Do you believe this tragedy highlights a deeper systemic issue within public transportation in Bobo-Dioulasso?
* **[To Sié Joël Dah]** FESCI-BF is advocating for justice for the deceased student. What does justice look like in this context? Beyond legal implications, are there broader social and ethical considerations that need to be addressed?
* **[To Antoine David Dah]** What role do you envision students playing in advocating for safer and more reliable public transportation?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you, Sié and Antoine, for sharing your perspectives on this critical issue. Sadly, this tragedy is a stark reminder of the importance of safe and reliable public transportation, especially for our youth. We hope this conversation will contribute to finding lasting solutions and preventing future tragedies.
**Note:**
Remember to allow ample time for thoughtful responses and encourage further discussion between the guests. This interview structure is designed to be flexible, allowing for spontaneity and deeper exploration of the issues at hand.
