Day: January 31, 2024

Ouagadougou: The Minister of Agriculture, animal and fishery resources, Ismaël Sombié, visited the sites of Guénako (Kénédougou Province) and Yendéré (Comoé Province), in the Hauts-Bassins and Cascades regions, on Monday January 29, 2024, to ensure the relaunch of fruit and vegetable production. The Council of Ministers at its meeting of December 29, 2023 adopted a report relating to a proposal for solutions for the development of the fruit and vegetable production sites of the former company Flex Faso. As a result, the sites of Kourinion-Guénako of 500 hectares (ha) and Yendéré also of an area of 500 ha were handed over to the local population for the relaunch of exploitation. In order to ensure the effectiveness of this relaunch, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Ismaël Sombié, visited the said sites on Monday January 29, 2024. According to the minister, this visit is part of the implementation of the government's instruction which is to take all measures so that the lands whi ch have been made available to the population can be exploited in the best possible way. time limit. The ministerial delegation was able to observe the provisions that are being implemented by the various stakeholders, in particular the decentralized structures in collaboration with local populations for 'optimal' exploitation of these sites. 'We were also able to see that the populations are very enthusiastic and grateful to the government which took this decision to restore their rights and support them so that these lands can be exploited,' underlined the minister. responsible for agriculture. Abandoned for a long time, both sites are experiencing water problems. On site, Minister Sombié instructed the technical services of his department so that two boreholes could be made 'quickly' available to the population on the Yendéré site. 'On the Guénako site, we decided to put back in place the system that had been designed and which made it possible to irrigate the areas that were previously exploited,' he suggested. According to the village chief of Kourinion, Drissa Traoré, the populations want to work to develop the site in order to create wealth and employment for women and young people. 'We also want to improve the quality of the local cashew,' he said. Listening to him, the population has set up two entities. A first which will focus on arboriculture (mango), but with an offensive on market gardening production. And the second entity, according to him, will take care of the maintenance of the cashew nut. 'The site is entrusted to community management under the responsibility of the local community of Kourinion,' notified the village chief. As for the youth representative of Yendéré, Tiakoumbiè Soulama, he underlined the availability of young people to work on the 500 ha. 'There are dynamic young people available to work, but water is lacking,' he said. Tiakoumbiè Soulama indicated that Yendéré producers face several difficulties. It is about the lack of water and the action of elephants which des troy crops. 'We had built small wells to be able to work, but this is only done for a while, because in one or two months these wells dry up. Throughout the dry season, young gardeners are unemployed,' noted Tiakoumbiè Soulama. Source: Burkina Information Agency The Ministry of Social Affairs has decided a social amnesty consisting of waiving penalties for late payment of debts owed by private companies to social security funds, starting in March 2024, Minister of Social Affairs, Malek Zahi announced Wednesday in Tunis. At a press conference held at the headquarters of the ministry, Zahi said this new tax amnesty, which will last for six months, will not be renewed and called on private companies to regularise their situation. He pointed out that this operation is part of the social aspect of the measures adopted in favour of the economic fabric, as the tax amnesty will play an important role in supporting and promoting Tunisian businesses. He recalled that the tax amnesty decided in 2022 is an effective mechanism to mobilise significant financial resources for the benefit of the social funds, as the amount of their financial resources will reach 500 million dinars in 2022. The announcement of the amnesty comes within the framework of the State's commitment to r espect its social role in boosting private enterprise and improving the revenues of the social funds, he added. In addition, the minister announced that the ministry is planning to launch a programme in the field of social dialogue based on defining the relationship between workers and employers, as well as the launch of a radio station that will be a media platform focused on disseminating information with a social dimension. Zahi revealed that the programme aims to raise awareness of the professional rights and duties of each party, noting that the social parties will be partners in its implementation. He emphasised the Ministry's interest in social dialogue and its desire to develop labour relations, stressing the importance of dialogue with all stakeholders to achieve positive results in establishing a reference framework for labour relations. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidates in the second round of the local elections representing the electoral constituency of Dour Ismail under the delegation of Goubellat (Governorate of Beja), Lazhar Mhamdi (105 votes, or 48.84% of votes in first round) and Mohamed Hajri (43 votes, 20% of votes), spoke of the need to develop the local infrastructure. Candidate Lazhar Mhamdi, a civil servant, promised to upgrade roads and rural tracks, provide agricultural loans to farmers, ensure fairer distribution of fodder and promote school transport in rural areas. He also promised to focus on regularizing the land situation of unexploited agricultural areas. Candidate Mohamed Hajri spoke of asphalting roads in the area, generalizing public lighting, solving the problem of drinking water supply as well as preserving the environment. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré reaffirmed in an interview with journalist Alain Foka, that there is no part of the national territory where the National Armed Forces cannot not set foot. 'There is not this portion of territory where we want to leave and which we cannot leave. The territories which were under the control of terrorists, three to four years ago, today we can set foot there,' indicated the President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré during an interview granted Tuesday to journalist Alain Foka. According to President Traoré, the Burkinabè army is today in an offensive and not defensive posture. 'We are going towards the enemy, we are looking for the enemy and this has awakened all the sleeper cells. We have realized at this moment the extent of the terrorism situation,' he said. Faced with this situation, the Head of State welcomed the awakening of patriotism among all Burkinabè people. 'Whether it is the combatants, whether it is the civilian popu lations you see them contributing, it would not have been possible a few years ago,' he said. After the withdrawal of foreign troops in the three countries (Burkina, Mali and Niger) which have suffered terrorism for several years, President Traoré affirms his optimism about the capacity of the three armies to liberate their countries. He once again denounced the double game of foreign armies which, despite their technologies, according to him, did not provide the aid they had promised for the liberation of the three countries. Since coming to power on September 30, 2024, relations between Burkina Faso and Russia have warmed up and several projects are planned between the two countries. President Traoré welcomes this relationship in which the Russians sell Burkina Faso all the weapons it needs. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The Minister of Agriculture, animal and fishery resources, Ismaël Sombié, visited the sites of Guénako (Kénédougou Province) and Yendéré (Comoé Province), in the Hauts-Bassins and Cascades regions, on Monday January 29, 2024, to ensure the relaunch of fruit and vegetable production. The Council of Ministers at its meeting of December 29, 2023 adopted a report relating to a proposal for solutions for the development of the fruit and vegetable production sites of the former company Flex Faso. As a result, the sites of Kourinion-Guénako of 500 hectares (ha) and Yendéré also of an area of 500 ha were handed over to the local population for the relaunch of exploitation. In order to ensure the effectiveness of this relaunch, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Ismaël Sombié, visited the said sites on Monday January 29, 2024. According to the minister, this visit is part of the implementation of the government's instruction which is to take all measures so that the lands whi ch have been made available to the population can be exploited in the best possible way. time limit. The ministerial delegation was able to observe the provisions that are being implemented by the various stakeholders, in particular the decentralized structures in collaboration with local populations for 'optimal' exploitation of these sites. 'We were also able to see that the populations are very enthusiastic and grateful to the government which took this decision to restore their rights and support them so that these lands can be exploited,' underlined the minister. responsible for agriculture. Abandoned for a long time, both sites are experiencing water problems. On site, Minister Sombié instructed the technical services of his department so that two boreholes could be made 'quickly' available to the population on the Yendéré site. 'On the Guénako site, we decided to put back in place the system that had been designed and which made it possible to irrigate the areas that were previously exploited,' he suggested. According to the village chief of Kourinion, Drissa Traoré, the populations want to work to develop the site in order to create wealth and employment for women and young people. 'We also want to improve the quality of the local cashew,' he said. Listening to him, the population has set up two entities. A first which will focus on arboriculture (mango), but with an offensive on market gardening production. And the second entity, according to him, will take care of the maintenance of the cashew nut. 'The site is entrusted to community management under the responsibility of the local community of Kourinion,' notified the village chief. As for the youth representative of Yendéré, Tiakoumbiè Soulama, he underlined the availability of young people to work on the 500 ha. 'There are dynamic young people available to work, but water is lacking,' he said. Tiakoumbiè Soulama indicated that Yendéré producers face several difficulties. It is about the lack of water and the action of elephants which des troy crops. 'We had built small wells to be able to work, but this is only done for a while, because in one or two months these wells dry up. Throughout the dry season, young gardeners are unemployed,' noted Tiakoumbiè Soulama. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Run-off local elections candidates for the Jebel Jeloud (Garjouma in Tunis 1) Chokri Manai promised to address infrastructure, transport and telecommunications services, sanitation and uncontrolled building, calling on voters to turn out in large numbers. Manai, who received 48.71% of the votes in the first round, further undertook to improve public transport, create public transport lines, connect the sewage system to the residential area in front of the high school and set up a public kindergarten. For his part, candidate in the Garjouma delegation, Radhouane Faidi, pledged to spare no efforts to improve the daily living conditions of the locals and contribute to the achievement of real development. The run-off local elections will be held next February 4, while the election campaign ends on February 2. The Jebel Jeloud delegation includes 7 constituencies: Sidi Fathallah, Ali Bach Hamba, Garjouma, El Fath Neighbourhood, Sabkha, El Afran and Jebel Jloud. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The States of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have nothing to envy of other States, particularly in terms of natural resources, indicated the president of the transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, stressing that these States are doing everything to not import anything regarding agricultural products. 'In terms of production, normally the AES states should not import anything regarding agricultural products and food. Today, we are aware of this and we are doing everything so that we do not import anything,' indicated the president of the transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Captain Ibrahim Traoré spoke during an interview given Tuesday to journalist Alain Foka. For Captain Traoré, the AES has the resources to exploit the vast areas it has for food. For him, the alliance is aware of its potential which should allow it 'to go a long way', and to have 'very strong economies today', if there had been sound management of these resources. 'The AES is a large reserve of groundwater and even on the s urface in terms of mineral resources, we have nothing to envy of anyone,' he added. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The Go Paga Association inaugurated Wednesday in Kaya (Central-North), a military social complex called 'Teelgo' for a total amount of 110 million CFA francs for the benefit of those injured in operations and widows of soldiers who fell at the front. 'This center will allow the families of our brave Defense and Security Forces (FDS) that we have lost to be able to reinvent themselves and to know that they have the support of the population,' indicated the promoter of the Go association. Paga, Mrs. Fadima Kambou. According to her, the new military infrastructure of four blocks built for the benefit of those wounded in operations and the widows of the FDS who fell on the battlefield, cost the sum of 110 million FCFA. Ms. Kambou who spoke on Wednesday in Kaya (Centre-North), during an official inauguration ceremony of a social complex called 'Teelgo' in the first military region of Burkina Faso. Listening to it, the Go Paga association was supported in the creation of the new jewel by its financ ial partners who are the Presidency of Faso and the Vista Banque group. The promoter of the Go Paga association stressed that the military complex will accommodate 100 widows for training in hairdressing, sewing, saponification, cooking and aesthetics. According to him, the crèche will also accommodate 30 to 40 children while indicating that a library for adults has been set up in the said military complex. Ms. Fadima Kambou specified that all the injured will be grouped together at the new center which has just been inaugurated in the town of Kaya, in the Center-North region. For the occasion, she noted, among other things, the construction of sites for those injured in operations, the provision of their meals since December 2022, the installation of 300 widows for their empowerment. The general director of the Vista Banque group, Mohamed BS, for his part, said he was satisfied with the construction of the social complex for the benefit of those injured in operations. Mr. BS expressed the availability of his financial institution to support the Go Paga association in its various social works for the FDS and the populations. According to the general director of social action for the armies and wounded in operation, Colonel-Major Sié Remis Kambou, the wounded must be recovered so that they can occupy their posts again. 'When the presidency of Faso and the Vista Banque and Go Paga group realize the situation and take this into account, it relieves the military hierarchy,' confided Colonel-Major Kambou. He also urged that the collaboration continue for the happiness of the war wounded in Burkina Faso. According to one of the beneficiaries, Elisabeth Sebego, the military center will allow them to train and take care of themselves. According to Ms. Sébego, most of the time, women rely on their husbands and when they are no longer there, it remains a problem for them. 'With this jewel that we have just received, we will train ourselves and take care of our families,' she rejoiced. Source: Burkina Informat ion Agency

Ouagadougou: Burkinabè newspapers read by the AIB this Wednesday, echo the death of the former president of the national assembly, Arsène Bongnessan Yé, exchanges between the president of the Transition, Ibrahim Traoré and the ambassador of Saudi Arabia and the exit of the Stallions in the quarter-finals of CAN 2024. 'Burkina exited in the quarter-finals, the stallions gallop towards Ouaga', displays on its front page the dean of the private daily newspapers L'Observateur Paalga. For this newspaper, 'it is in the round of 16 that Burkina Faso's journey ends in this 34th edition of the CAN in Ivory Coast'. 'The least we can say is that the Burkinabè showed love, if not by the auto goal offered graciously by Edmond Tapsoba,' continues the private daily. According to the private daily Le Pays, 'at the start of the second period, the eagles brought the score to 2 goals to 0 through Lassina Sinayoko, following a rapid attack where the Burkinabé defense demonstrated of a lack of lucidity. For the state daily S idwaya, 'it took a penalty caused by Mohamed Konaté after consulting the video and transformed by Bertrand Traoré (57th) to put them back in the match'. 'Mali deserved their qualification for having played a serious match which they mastered from start to finish,' adds the newspaper. He also adds that the Eagles of Mali are heading to the quarter-finals and will meet the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire next Saturday. In another vein, the private daily Le Pays mentions on its front page: 'The Saudi Arabian ambassador discusses with the head of state on subjects of common interest'. This newspaper reports that 'The president of the transition, head of state Captain Ibrahim Traoré, received in audience on Tuesday January 30, 2024, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Burkina Faso, Fahad Aldosari, bearer of a message of thanks from Saudi King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud. 'With Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the Saudi diplomat spoke about strengthening cooperation between the two countries in several strategic a reas including health and security,' writes his colleague Sidwaya. From another angle Sidwaya displays on its front page: Death of Bongnessan Yé, 'the lion of Mouhoun' returns definitively to his den. According to the state daily, military medical officer and politician Arsène Bongnessan Yé died yesterday Tuesday, February 30, 2024, in Casablanca, where he had been evacuated for treatment last Saturday. 'This painful loss follows a stroke he suffered on Saturday January 27,' adds the public daily. For its part, the private newspaper Le Pays writes that 'Dr Yé was a character who marked the political and institutional life of Burkina Faso for a long time'. For L'Observateur Paalga, "we can think what we want about the man, but the one that his biological and political family mourns disappears after a busy earthly journey." 'After he retired from political life, one of his last public appearances would have been at the trial on the assassination of Thomas Sankara and his companions in misfortune, where he was heard as a witness », Adds the dean of private daily newspapers. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The deputy director and head of the nuclear energy department of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mikhail Chudakov, on Tuesday invited the Burkinabè to demystify nuclear power, clean, safe and more appropriate energy to initiate the development of the country. 'The question of the myth surrounding nuclear power is especially for people who do not have nuclear culture, who are not nuclear technicians. Otherwise, nuclear power is the cleanest energy currently, the safest for the planet,' said Deputy Director and Head of the Nuclear Energy Department of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mikhail Chudakov. Deputy Director and Head of the Nuclear Energy Department of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mikhail Chudakov on Tuesday hosted a public lecture at the Joseph KI-Zerbo University under the theme: 'Assistance of the IAEA for a sustainable energy future. For Mr. Chudakov, nuclear energy is also the path indicated to achieve the country's objectives in terms of zero carbon emissions by 2050. 'There is nothing like this for a country like Burkina Faso which depends on fossil fuels that they do not produce. It is really the most appropriate energy to be able to initiate development,' he added. For the teaching-researcher, president of the Joseph KI-Zerbo University, Professor Jean-Francois Kobiané, the demystification of nuclear power requires training and capacity building for those involved in the field. 'One thing is to work to demystify all representations about nuclear power, another is to create a critical mass of skills to enable us to support politicians in this path in which our State is embarking, therefore to promote nuclear energy', he indicated. According to him, there are already initiatives underway in terms of training with the permanent secretariat of the national nuclear energy agency. In his opinion, nuclear power constitutes an opportunity and it is necessary for universities and the national center for scientific and technological research to come together to work on setting up training. For Professor Kobiané, there were discussions with the Deputy Director General with a view to creating an institute for nuclear energy research. 'We are truly willing to explore avenues of this collaboration with the IAEA. But also, we have started discussions with the permanent secretariat at the national level to promote nuclear energy but above all to train skills,' he concluded. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Gayéri: The populations of the villages of Tankoualou and Nassourou in the commune of Foutouri / province of Komondjari, donated 254,000 FCFA in support of the peace effort. As part of the support of the transitional authorities for the peace effort, the populations of the villages of Tankoualou and Nassourou in the commune of Foutouri in the province of Komondjari donated on January 30, 2024 a sum of two hundred and fifty-four thousand ( 254,000) FCFA francs to Mr. Moumouni SANARE, president of the special delegation of Foutouri. The said sum was paid to the Public Treasury of Burkina Faso. The information was given to the AIB by the president of the special delegation in person. Source: Burkina Information Agency