APRA Decries Terror Attack in Burkina Faso

The African Public Relations Association (APRA) has condemned the recent terror attack in the Burkinabe town of Barsalogho in the Sanmatenga Province of the Republic, which has killed so many people and injured scores of persons.

In a statement on Friday, signed by Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, secretary-general, APRA, the body said it is greatly concerned about the increasing terror attacks in Burkina Faso and in other parts of Africa.

“The umbrella body of practitioners and  professionals of  public relations in  Africa hereby calls for the cessation of all forms of attacks, especially on unarmed people. We call for dialogue as a more civil approach to resolving conflicts instead of violent attacks leading to destruction and catastrophic outcomes that leave the continent more devastated.

“We  are  gravely disturbed by  this recent attack in  Burkina Faso, coming on  the  heels of  the  death of over 500 persons due to mpox scourge caused by the monkeypox  virus  ravaging  the  Democratic Republic of  Congo, DRC, the hotbed of  the health crisis; and the distressing floods caused by  the collapse of the Arba’ at Dam in the east of the Republic of Sudan, destroying or impacting about 70 communities and affecting telecommunication infrastructure and other utilities. These and many emergent humanitarian crises in Africa have been overwhelming enough for a great but challenged continent. Therefore, entrenched terror attacks can only worsen efforts at restoring the glory of the continent.

“As a body of communication managers, APRA iterates its call for increased, sincere and responsible conversation and concrete actions among state actors and other stakeholders in  Africa  to  address these and future challenges, many of which are heralded by warning signs. Therefore, APRA calls on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to resume strengthening collaboration with  the  government  and people of DRC because mpox is yet to be defeated as an existential global health issue.

APRA stands in solidarity with the Governments and people of Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Sudan. We  commiserate with those who have lost family members and friends. We also wish those injured and displaced speedy recovery.