Day: January 30, 2024

Candidate in the run-off local elections (Cité Erriadh district / La Marsa constituency), Hammadi Ben Brahim, is continuing his campaign through direct contact with citizens. In the first round, the candidate obtained 30.12% of the votes (206). In a statement to TAP agency, Ben Brahim reaffirmed his commitment to finding solutions to the region's various problems and to guaranteeing the conditions for a dignified life by working to reduce unemployment. The candidate said that the main points of his electoral platform included the creation of kindergartens and the installation of public lighting poles at all the entrances to the town. There are 10 imadas in the La Marsa delegation: La Marsa Plage, La Marsa Medina, La Marsa les jardins, La Marsa Erriadh, Remila, La Marsa montazah, Gammarth, Gammarth supérieur, Sidi Daoud and Bhar Lazreg. Seven of these Imadas elected their representatives in the first round of the local elections. Only three Imadas, those of La Marsa Erriadh, Bhar Lazreg and Remila, are i nvolved in the run-off. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidates Sami Ayari and Wafa Abdelli from the January 18 locality in the Ettadhamen neighbourhood are running in the run-off local elections in the governorate of Ariana. Sami Ayari and Wafa Abdelli received 304 and 201 votes, respectively, in the first round. Candidate Sami Ayari, 42, a labourer, has pledged to establish a municipal kindergarten, maintain schools, launch new public transport lines, transform the local Ettadhmen hospital into a regional hospital, encourage young people to become entrepreneurs and develop the multidisciplinary sports hall. Candidate Wafa Abdelli (29, teacher), for her part, is calling for an environmental ethic to be adopted, infrastructure projects to be stepped up, the quality of public transport to be improved and municipal markets to be renovated. She also promises to provide sports activities for children and people with special needs, maintain schools, hospitals and youth centres and encourage young people to create their own projects. Source: Agence Tunis Afriq ue Presse

The Health Ministry on Monday evening announced the success of a new medical surgery, namely a bone marrow autograft on a 49-year-old patient, carried out in the bone marrow transplant department of the Maternity and Neonatology Centre of the Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital in Monastir, in coordination with the clinical haematology department and the science and blood transfusion laboratory of the same hospital. This precise and successful surgery is the first of its kind to be performed at this centre, according to a Health Ministry press release. "Its success is the fruit of efforts to promote organ transplantation in Tunisia, and testifies to the high standard of the Tunisian medical and paramedical staff," stresses the press release, pointing out that the surgery was performed on January 15, and the patient was discharged from hospital on January 29 in a stable condition. The Ministry also announced a second medical success at the same hospital. A medical team from the neurosurgery department succeeded on January 26 in surgically removing a brain tumour from an area responsible for the movement of the right hand and leg, using a new anaesthetic technique (awake surgery) on a 17-year-old girl. Performed in collaboration with a specialist private-sector health team, the operation was conducted without complications and without the need for resuscitation. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The two candidates in the second round of local elections representing the electoral constituency of Oued Erremal in the delegation of Zaghouan-town, Mohamed Lachheb and Yassine Bouali, introduced their electoral programmes to the locals. Candidate Mohamed Lachheb, a secondary school teacher and farmer, told TAP, in case he wins, he will work on improving the area's infrastructure and promoting local governance, consolidate the transport fleet and create more leisure clubs for young people. Candidate Yassine Bou Ali, an employee in a private company, promised to redevelop the project of the «Bou Slim» region and upgrade the infrastructure of other residential areas in the region. He also underlined to promote the «Ksar Bourguiba» archeological site in «Béni Darraj» through a well-defined restoration programme. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Two candidates are standing for the run-off local elections in El Ghiria in the North Béja delegation. They are Ramzi Ballegui and Tahar Hosni, who obtained 140 and 139 votes, respectively, in the first round. Ramzi Ballegui called in particular for the upgrading of roads, the installation of a drainage system and refuse collection bins, and the construction of a football pitch. Candidate Tahar Hosni on the other hand, called notably for upgrading the road infrastructure, renovating the public drinking water supply, drainage and electricity networks, improving school transport and youth employment, as well as providing assistance to small farmers. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: Former diplomats grouped within the Association of Former Ambassadors of Burkina Faso (AABF) declared their availability and support to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday in Ouagadougou, the day after Burkina's official notification to ECOWAS of its decision to withdraw from this institution Members of the Association of Former Ambassadors of Burkina Faso (AABF) went this Tuesday to 'express all (their) support for the country's foreign policy and diplomacy' to the head of Burkina Faso diplomacy, through their president, Maurice Délégué Traoré, former ambassador of Burkina to Russia. 'We will want to work permanently in a united manner with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,' confided Ambassador Traoré after leaving the audience with the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré. The Association of Former Ambassadors of Burkina Faso, created since 2015, presented the members of its new office to the head of diplomacy on the occasion. Yesterday Monday, the authoriti es of Burkina Faso transmitted to ECOWAS their joint decision with Mali and Niger to withdraw from this sub-regional institution which, in their eyes, has become subservient to external powers, harming its own members. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Gourcy: The Rural World Association (AMR) trained traders and service providers on January 23 and 24, 2024 in Gourcy, to promote green businesses and fight against gender-based violence (GBV). This training workshop on greening businesses was initiated for the benefit of suppliers in partnership with the Sahel Community Recovery and Stabilization Project (PCRSS), on January 23 and 24, 2024 in Gourcy. 'This training aims to equip business managers and encourage them to gradually transform their traditional businesses into green businesses and take into account the risks of GBV and sexual harassment within the framework of the PCRSS,' said indicated the National Coordinator of the Rural World Association ( AMR), Amadou Wangré. Participants from PCRSS partner municipalities in the North became familiar with, among other things, the notions of sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and their risk factors linked to the PCRSS, with the GBV expert, Aboubakar Kamagate. They also d iscussed the concept of green business which, according to the communicator, takes into account environmental protection throughout its operation. For the facilitator and environmental expert, Boussé Jean Sam, the use of renewable energies and products respecting ecological standards, the reflex to protect one's immediate environment are, among other things, the indicators of a green company. He also spoke with the participants about the creation and management of green businesses. The workshop ended with the individual signing of a code of good conduct. The PCRSS is a project which works for the recovery and stabilization of populations in the Liptako-Gourma area (Burkina, Mali, Niger) strongly affected by insecurity. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Gourcy: The Association Monde Rural (AMR) organized, on January 25 and 26, 2024 in Gourcy, a conference for its provincial executives. The functioning of local coordinations and the preparation of the 14th General Assembly of the association were at the center of the discussions. The first conference of provincial executives of the Association Monde Rural (AMR), began on Thursday January 25, 2024 at the association's headquarters in Gourcy under the presidency of the Secretary General of the Zondoma province Anatole Kaboré. For the National Coordinator of the AMR, Amadou Wangré, this conference aims, on the one hand, to offer a framework for meetings between the local leaders of the association and on the other hand, to equip them so that they can positively impact their respective localities. Made up of provincial coordinators, managers, provincial coordination rapporteurs and provincial and regional focal points, the participants came from the 16 provinces covered by the association. For two days, they reinforced their knowledge of their structure, addressing aspects such as its vision, its mission, its values and its philosophy, the financing of its sovereign activities and communication. The themes of social cohesion and gender-based violence (GBV) were also discussed. Regarding VBG, the local executives of the AMR signed a code of good conduct in connection with the Community Project for the Recovery and Stabilization of the Sahel (PCRSS) of which the association is responsible for the implementation in the regions of North and Sahel. The work resulted in commitments and recommendations which will be submitted for discussion at the 14th General Assembly of delegates of the structure, scheduled for Ouagadougou on January 27, 2024. The provincial coordinator of Sanmatenga, François Baloum, on behalf of the participants, welcomed the establishment of such a framework which will help to boost coordination and strengthen the visibility of the association. Created in 1996, the AMR now has more than 150 me mbers. It is present in 10 regions of Burkina and its actions have earned it the status of public utility organization, awarded since 2013 by the Burkinabe state. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Appointed on December 4:ppointed on December 4, 2023, by the Council of Ministers, the prison guard inspector, Assétou Ouattara, was officially installed in her role as first director of the Pô remand and correction center on January 24, 2024. Assétou Ouattara thanked the highest authorities of the country through the Ministry of Justice for the trust placed in her modest person and the dimension of the mission entrusted to her. This mission is the execution of criminal decisions and more particularly the implementation of custodial sentences while promoting the social reintegration of people entrusted to them by the judicial authority. This is why she has made a solemn commitment to fulfill with dedication, loyalty and self-sacrifice the responsibilities entrusted to her. She also said she was counting on the support of all the provincial authorities and her hierarchy to guide the destiny of this remand and correctional center. The High Commissioner of the Nahouri province, Auguste Kinda, indicated that this installation is a decisive step for the upcoming opening of this detention and correction center. His incessant openness, he stressed, will greatly relieve the populations of Nahouri, especially the prisoners and their families. Prisoners from the province who are serving their sentences in Manga, far from their families. The ceremony was attended by the regional director of the prison administration within the jurisdiction of the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal and the director of sports, arts and culture of the prison administration. Source: Burkina Information Agency

The first vice-president of the special delegation of the commune of Pô:resident of the special delegation of the commune of Pô, Francis Williams Yaguibou, representing the focal point of the commune's VDP support committee, received on January 29, 2024, financial support in the amount of 812,725 F CFA, for the volunteers for the defense of the homeland (VDP) of the commune and 100,000 F CFA, for the Medical Center with surgical branch of Pô. This support was offered by the Muslim community of the commune of Pô. According to the spokesperson for the religious structure, Assane Gomgnimbou, this gesture is a way for it to recognize the efforts and sacrifice made by all the defense and security forces and in particular the VDP of the commune of Pô. 'This contribution follows the call from the highest authorities of the country to contribute to the peace effort by supporting the combat forces engaged in the theaters of operations,' he added. Mr. Gongnimbou was delighted with the fact that the FDS and VDP are doing an excellent job of securing the community and that the populations are able to move around freely and carry out their activities. Regarding the donation of 100,000 CFA francs given to the CMA of Pô, Assane Gomgnimbou, indicated that it is intended mainly to pay for washing kits for patients suffering from lymphatic filariasis. The representative of the focal point of the committee, Francis Williams Yaguibou, welcomed the initiative of the Muslim community of the commune. 'This chain of solidarity towards our brave VDP is a sign that the daughters and sons of the commune are proud of the work of their VDP brothers who abandoned women and children to defend the homeland,' he added. For the representative of the District Chief Medical Officer (MCD), Issiaka Daboné, the financial support received by the CMA is timely and will remove a big thorn in the feet of these patients in the province, estimated at around 200 and who do not have the means to pay for washing kits. The Muslim community prayed for t he return of peace to Burkina Faso. She had organized a similar prayer in 2023, notably for the FDS and VDP and transitional authorities. Source: Burkina Information Agency