Kaya: A great man passed away during the night of August 29-30, 2025, but his memory will continue to inspire the people of Kaya. Mahama Belemvire, educator, politician, and builder of the city of leather, died in Kaya at the age of 84. He leaves behind an inconsolable population. (Portrait)
According to Burkina Information Agency, Mahama Belemvire was born in 1941 in Kaya and devoted his life to promoting development and improving the living conditions of the population. A teacher by profession, he opened the Biba primary school in the Bankuy region in 1960. This locality, which took its first steps in education thanks to him, will remain marked by his dedication.
He then worked in several regions, notably in Yaadga and among the Koulse, where his love for the teaching profession grew stronger. An educational advisor, he was dismissed in 1984 during the collective layoffs decided during the Revolution. But his attachment to education pushed him to lend a hand, as a volunteer, at the Zincko primary school in the commune of Mane. Rehabilitated in 1987, he was made an Officer of the National Order before retiring from his profession in 1995.
His exemplary career as an educator, community leader, member of the National Assembly, and mayor of the commune of Kaya has made him a man whose legacy will leave a lasting mark on the history of Kaya, Sandbontenga, and Burkina Faso. His loved ones, former students, political comrades, and colleagues, paying their last respects on Sunday, August 31, 2025, will remember him as a charismatic, wise, and attentive man. A unifier, a hard worker, and concerned about the quality of public service.
Mahama Belemvire also distinguished himself in the community, particularly within the twinning committee and the Burkinabe Association for Family Well-being (ABBEF). Through his perseverance, he promoted decentralized cooperation by establishing fruitful partnerships with local authorities in the North. Elected as a member of parliament under the banner of the ODP/MT during the first legislature (1992-1997), his political career took a decisive turn when he was elected mayor of Kaya on May 31, 2006, with a landslide victory of 154 votes out of 155. A respected figure, he was able to transcend local divisions and promote consensus in an often complex context.
As head of the Kaya commune, Mahama Belemvire combined technical expertise and strategic vision to address development challenges. He launched several initiatives in education, health, and sanitation. Among his emblematic achievements is the monument at the roundabout in Naaba Oubri Square, a symbol of his commitment to beautifying the city and improving the living environment of its residents.
Mahama Belemvire’s passing leaves a huge void. But his legacy lives on through the many projects he initiated and the progress made during his tenure. He will remain a source of inspiration for local development stakeholders. Mahama Belemvire now rests in his home, beneath the vacant land of Sandbontenga.