Day: January 31, 2024

Ouagadougou: The President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré declared Tuesday, Alain Foka, that no Russian is fighting on the ground against terrorism in Burkina Faso. 'No, there are no Russians on the ground to fight,' said the president of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. According to him, these allegations are made by certain people. But he assured that if the need arises, the Russians will go on the ground to fight. Captain Ibrahim Traoré spoke on Tuesday in Ouagadougou with journalist, Alain Foka and former correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI) on the national situation in the country. The head of state noted that the Russians who are there are instructors for training on military equipment purchased from them. 'It's with all the countries besides and it's not just the Russians. When you sign a contract to acquire equipment. There is a training aspect, there are plenty of Turks here, why don't we talk about it,' he added. The President of the Transition explained that d rones have been paid for with Turkey with assistance for more than a year. He noted that the Chinese train the Burkinabè military, once the equipment has been acquired in the desired areas (drones and others). Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: After its exit from ECOWAS, Burkina Faso will 'probably' tackle the FCFA, declared President Ibrahim Traoré who, however, asks 'to let things happen'. " Probably. Let things happen. Everything we do has surprised you, hasn't it? Things may still surprise you. And it's not just the currency. Whatever is the link that keeps us in slavery, we will break this link,' President Ibrahim Traoré declared yesterday Tuesday. The Burkinabè head of state responded to Cameroonian journalist Alain Foka who wanted to know if he was going to "attack the FCFA", after the withdrawal on Sunday of his country, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS. As a reminder, these three countries criticize the sub-regional institution for its unfair sanctions, its distance from its initial objectives and its subjugation to foreign powers. The abandonment of the FCFA instituted by France for the benefit of these then colonies in 1945 has sparked controversies for years between sovereignists and those who praise the stability of this cur rency in relation to the Euro. ECOWAS, which planned to create a single currency by 2025, could not be there because of its differences. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The head of state of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, indicated Tuesday that the plundering of the country's resources did not make it possible to acquire war material against The Terrorists. 'Our countries are not poor, there has been bad governance, there is theft, the looting of our resources, that's what it's about,' President Ibrahim Traoré said on Tuesday, in an interview granted Tuesday to journalist Alain Foka. He notably denounced electoral corruption and those politicians who plunder public resources to repay subsidies. For him, the Patriotic Support Fund is mainly used to equip the Army and also to maintain the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP). 'All these means that we are in the process of acquiring are (good) governance. There are resources, we have potential. In all departments or ministerial sectors, everyone is doing their best to rationalize,' he maintained. He specified that the Burkinabe state has reduced the subsidy of petroleum products from 500 bi llion FCFA in 2022 to 100 billion FCFA in 2023. 'We were also free when people made their proposals to tell SONABHY to make a proposal and the rebates we left to open our offshore accounts and put in,' explained Captain Traoré. The President of the Burkinabè Transition reassured that 'We don't have an account so everything is geared towards war. These savings are the equipment.' Captain Ibrahim Traoré denounced the high level of overcharging of politicians during the electoral period, and corruption accept funding and once elected, they plunder the resources to reimburse. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The association SOS Jeunesse et Défis (SOS-JD), awarded Tuesday, four scholarships worth 500 thousand CFA francs each, for the benefit of four students, as part of their research on Sexual and reproductive health in Burkina Faso. According to the executive director of the SOS Youth and Challenges association (SOS-JD) Burkina Faso, Harouna Ouédraogo, his structure awarded four scholarships worth 500 thousand CFA francs each, to four students. Mr. Ouédraogo specified that these are students in Master 2 or having completed at least one semester of Master 2, in the field of human, social sciences and health sciences. He also indicated that the four winners come from public and private universities in Burkina Faso and were selected from 15 candidates, by a jury of four members based on defined criteria. The first head of the association spoke on Tuesday in Ouagadougou, during a ceremony awarding four scholarships, for the benefit of four young students who are doing their research in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Harouna Ouédraogo explained that Share-Net International remains a knowledge management platform on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). To listen to it, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this platform is present in 7 countries around the world: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Colombia, Jordan, Ethiopia and the Netherlands . The executive director of the SOS JD association said that Share-Net's mission is to strengthen research and the development of better policies in favor of sexual and reproductive rights. 'We decided to support these students who are at the end of their cycle with scholarships, because we noticed that in reproductive rights and health, there is not enough research on the issue,' he said. -he argued. According to Mr. Ouédraogo, this activity of the association, the third of its kind, will allow NGOs and associations as well as the population to now have data and information for their advoc acy on SRH. To this end, one of the members of the jury, teacher-researcher in demography, Dr Natalie Sawadogo, noted that the selection of the winners was made on the basis of the relevance of their research or dissertation projects, their good results during the semesters. previous their Masters. Dr Sawadogo indicated that the realism of their project was taken into account in the selection criteria with the methodology of their research as well as their timeline. According to him, the process consisted first of the development of reference themes for the selection of researchers and then their dissemination by Share-Net, through several platforms for great participation of students. 'After receiving the applications, we examined and rated them using a common evaluation grid and this made it possible to make a pre-selection of the candidates who were submitted to interviews,' she said. The student, at the end of her Master's degree in demography research at the Higher Institute of Population Sciences ( ISSP), Marlène Wazina Siri, said she was dealing with the theme relating to "the use of digital tools and access to modern contraception among young people girls and adolescents aged 15 to 24 in the city of Ouagadougou. For Miss Siri, despite the efforts made by the State and its partners, the rate of unwanted pregnancies still remains high with low use of modern contraceptives. As for the Master of Public Health student at the Nazi Boni University of Bobo-Dioulasso, Nasser Abdoul Ouédraogo, he dwells on 'The knowledge, attitudes and practices in terms of contraception of Nazi Boni students in 2023'. Mr. Ouédraogo wants to add his touch with his theme in the field of SRH in Burkina Faso. At the end of the ceremony, the association presented certificates of recognition to the members of the selection jury for the work accomplished. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: Faced with American threats to make Iran pay for the assassination of three of its soldiers in Jordan, Tehran warned that its response would be rapid and decisive. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Wednesday urged the United States to stop using threatening language, warning that the Islamic Republic of Iran would give a quick and decisive response to the threats, the Agency said Press of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRNA). The remarks by Iran's top diplomat came amid US threats of retaliation for a recent drone attack on an outpost in northeastern Jordan that killed three US forces, for which he blamed what he called groups supported by Iran, adds the same source. The United States should stop using the language of threats and blame and should instead focus on a political solution, Amir Abdollahian said, according to IRNA. As a reminder, the Islamic Republic has already denied any involvement in Sunday's attack on US forces in Jordan and said resistance groups in the regi on were not taking orders from Tehran. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The Burkinabè head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, assured Tuesday that his country's exit from ECOWAS is 'a path of no return', AIB learned . 'You should never make certain mistakes. […] Our itinerary is a path of no return. […] The chains that we are breaking are forever,' President Ibrahim Traoré confided on Tuesday in an interview with journalist Alain Foka. 'We took the time to observe, analyze the situation and convince ourselves of our strengths before deciding' to leave ECOWAS, he added. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced on January 28, 2024 their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, criticizing the sub-regional institution for its unfair sanctions, its distance from its initial objectives and its subjugation to foreign powers. . 'For more than a decade, the sister Republics of Mali and Niger have been at war against terrorism and in Burkina, almost a decade we have been at war. This organization which was supposed to create mutual aid, solidarity… we have never received from this organization any soldier, no logistics, no compassion,' explained President Ibrahim Traoré. Regarding relations with other countries, the head of state wanted to be reassuring. 'We are leaving but we remain pan-African. Anyone in Africa who wants to come to Burkina is welcome there.' However, Captain Traoré says he knows what measures to take in a timely manner, if reciprocity is not applied. The departure of ECOWAS having been confirmed, the Burkinabè head of state believes that the Alliance of Sahel States, which has brought together these three countries since September 2023, 'is very viable', given its numerous potential. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The Burkinabè government on Wednesday welcomed the conviction displayed by the late Dr. Bognessan Arsène Yé, in the defense of his values and his contribution to the construction of Burkina Faso. 'The Government salutes the memory of a politician who defended with conviction the values in which he believed. It pays tribute to a man who served his country and made his contribution to the construction of Burkina Faso,' wrote government spokesperson Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo in a press release. 'The Government presents its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the illustrious deceased. May the free and sovereign land of Burkina Faso be free to him,' he added. The former president of the Assembly of People's Deputies (current ALT), Dr Bognessa Arsène Yé (67), died yesterday Tuesday in Casablanca, Morocco. Mr. Yé was president of the drafting commission of the 1992 Constitution, president of the Assembly of People's Deputies (current ALT) from 1992 to 1997, Minister of State i n charge of Agriculture then of the Environment of 1997 to 2000 then Minister of State in charge of Political Reforms from 2011 to 2014. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Run-off local elections candidates in Jedidiine constituency in Msaken delegation (Sousse governorate) are Maher Mejdoub and Ahmed Borheneddine Melih, who respectively obtained 46.63% and 35.04% of the votes in the first round. Candidate Maher Mejdoub promised to build a primary school in Srish, upgrade Wadi Chergui, set up a sewage system, pave the roads in Srich, Boutchicha and Hssainia, provide public transport service and boost the medical and paramedical staff at the Msaken local hospital. For his part, Ahmed Borheneddine Melih undertook to ensure the completion of the peripheral belt, extension of the sewerage and electricity networks and setting up new services at the Msaken local hospital. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidate in the run-off local elections in Remila locality, La Marsa delegation, Hanene Rhayem, has reaffirmed her commitment to promoting the region and improving the living conditions of all residents. Having secured 44.05% of the vote in the first round, the candidate is continuing her campaign for the run-off by engaging directly with citizens. Supporting low-income families, the underprivileged, and individuals with disabilities are key elements of her electoral manifesto, she told TAP. She also emphasised the cleanliness of the town and the creation of a new road linking Gammarth to La Marsa. The candidate's manifesto addresses youth employment, with the objective of assisting them in starting their own businesses. Another priority is the establishment of a complex of children's clubs, she pointed out. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidates Rachid Ben Gouta and Ghaya Ben ChaSbane, who received 259 and 214 votes respectively in the first round, are in the running for the run-off local elections in Cité Moustakbel in the Fouchana delegation (Ben Arous governorate). Candidate Rachid Ben Gouta, 62, promised to fight the "excessive increase" in the price of consumer goods, to promote the creation of daily and weekly markets in the constituency, to set up a development association to stimulate economic activity and to drive the creation of communitarian companies to reduce youth employment. For her part, candidate Ghaya Ben ChaSbane has promised to promote infrastructure, rehabilitate the sewerage system, maintain the Medjerda canal and provide more public lighting. She also pledged to promote small businesses, encourage investment in the region and set up an emergency medical unit in the area. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse