At a flag-raising ceremony in Ouagadougou on Monday, October 5, 2026, Burkinabè officials delivered a strong call for economic patriotism, urging citizens to make every purchase of ‘Made in Burkina’ goods “an act of sovereignty.” The event marked the second phase of the 2026 National Days of Patriotic Engagement and Citizen Participation (JEPPC). Minister of State for Territorial Administration Émile Zerbo read the speech on behalf of leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

The new slogan “All for the Made in Burkina” frames local consumption as essential to national sovereignty. Zerbo argued that a nation that does not feed and clothe itself ends up being dictated to by others. The speech outlined three critical “locks” that must be opened: production, processing, and consumption.

A Three-Link Chain of Sovereignty

On production, the speech cited successes like over seven million tonnes of cereals and a million tonnes of rice, arguing Burkina Faso can feed itself despite challenges. On processing, Zerbo lamented exporting raw cotton only to buy back finished shirts, calling this a transfer of national wealth. The third “lock” is consumer mentality, where imported goods are seen as normal.

The minister specifically called on women as central actors in all three links, noting that “sovereignty is played out even in the cooking pot.” He also urged citizens to plant trees to protect soil, framing good harvests as dependent on good land. The ceremony served to redefine patriotism, extending it from national symbols to actions in fields, workshops, and on the plates of citizens.