President Ibrahim Traoré stood at the airport dressed like any ordinary man. No bodyguards, no press, no sirens—just him. It had been a long time since he travelled without security, but he needed this. His cousin had just given birth to triplets abroad, and he wanted to surprise her. Just two days. No official meeting, no protocol, just a quiet visit. He wanted to walk like normal people, breathe like normal people, and feel free again. That morning, he took a taxi from the hotel to his cousin’s neighbourhood. It was a beautiful estate filled with tall green trees, well-cut…
Author: town gist
The night sky over Burkina Faso was dark and heavy. No stars showed. The moon hid behind thick clouds. Far away, a deep sound grew louder. It was not thunder. It was engines. Seventy big trucks were moving fast on the long, empty highway. Their headlights looked like a line of small white fires. The wind carried the smell of dust and fuel. Each truck carried a huge metal container. No name was written on the sides. They all drove like they wanted to disappear before morning. In the capital city, President Ibrahim Traoré stood over a large map. Red…
It was a bright, warm afternoon in Wagadugu, the busy capital of Burkina Faso. President Ibrahim Traoré had just finished a surprise visit to a local school. He had spoken to the teachers, encouraged the students, and even laughed with a few children who ran up to shake his hand. After the visit, he walked toward his convoy, ready to return to the palace for his next meeting. But just as he reached the main road, something made him stop. On the side of the street, near a cracked, dusty wall, sat an elderly man. His back rested against the…
9-year-old Mary cried and begged, “Mom, please stop,” until her father came home when no one expected him. What happened next shocked everyone. A black luxury car rolled quietly through tall iron gates and stopped in front of a huge white mansion. William Jackson stepped out, his expensive suit wrinkled from the long flight. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes tired. He had been away on business for six long weeks. In his hand, he carried a small pink gift bag. Inside was a soft brown teddy bear he had bought in New York, the exact one his 9-year-old daughter…
Nine-year-old Lily Cole pressed her ear against the bathroom door, her heart pounding so loudly she was afraid Vanessa could hear it. On the other side, her stepmother whispered into her phone, and the words Lily heard made her blood turn to ice. “Once he’s gone, everything will be ours. The insurance money, the house, everything. Don’t worry, the brakes will fail on the highway. It’ll look like an accident.” Lily’s hands began to shake. Her daddy. They were talking about her daddy. She backed away from the door carefully, trying not to make any sound. Her stomach twisted like…
Nine-year-old Rachel stands in a crowded memorial hall, clutching a tiny bottle in her hand. The room is full of adults crying, hugging, and talking about how wonderful her mother, Grace, was. At the front, Miss Glattis, Grace’s “best friend,” is giving an emotional speech, dressed in a black dress, dabbing her eyes with a tissue and promising to “always be there” for Grace’s family. People whisper about how kind and loyal she is. But Rachel knows the truth. Her mother once told her, “Always speak the truth, even when it’s hard.” With her heart pounding, Rachel suddenly stands up…
Dust drifted across the empty yard as the little boy clutched his blue teddy, his tears darkening the dirt beneath trembling hands. No footsteps echoed near him, only the hollow wind scraping across broken walls that whispered of nights spent utterly alone. His tiny breaths hitched with quiet sobs, yet no one answered—not even the shadows stretching from the ruined building behind him. The toy in his arms was worn but warm, the last memory of a home that vanished the moment his family walked away without turning back. He rocked himself gently, trying to silence hunger and fear, wishing…
Every day, the twins sat quietly, looking straight into each other’s eyes, almost like they were speaking without words. Their mother watched them with growing fear. Why wouldn’t they talk to her? Why did they act like she didn’t exist, focusing only on each other? When she finally discovered the secret hidden in her husband’s past, the truth broke her completely. Everything she believed about….Read Full Story Here…….
It was a bright Monday morning in Wagadugu, the capital city of Burkina Faso. The sun climbed slowly into the sky, spreading soft golden light over the buildings and busy streets. At the presidential palace, the guards stood strong as President Ibrahim Traoré stepped outside. He wore a simple dark brown shirt and trousers, nothing fancy, but his eyes showed focus and purpose. This day was not like his usual days filled with long meetings, speeches, and official responsibilities. Today, he had something different in….Read Full Story Here……
The sun beat down hard, turning the dusty road into a glowing line of heat as President Ibrahim Traoré and his security team continued their long journey. They had been moving from one event to another since early morning—meeting people, shaking hands, giving speeches, and listening to countless requests. Everyone in the convoy was exhausted, but Ibrahim felt something even sharper than tiredness. His stomach was empty, and the hunger was becoming painful. He sat in the back seat of his black SUV, trying to stay focused, but the hunger wouldn’t let….Read Full Story Here…….