Day: February 2, 2024

Candidates for the run-off local elections in Siliana are carrying on their campaign until midnight on Friday, before the electoral silence. Candidate Nizar Atiri for South Makther, who secured 330 votes in the first round, pledged to work for upgrading infrastructure, increasing support to farmers, developing the industrial zone and establishing a museum in the region. Hamdi Ben Rebiha, running in the same constituency with 318 votes in the first round, presented a programme aimed to upgrade infrastructure and sports facilities, refurbish schools and build a local hospital. Candidate Mohamed Kamel Arfaoui, running in North Bourouis, undertook develop public institutions, bring administrative services closer to citizens, set up a sanitation network and boost the industrial sector. Bourouis local council is made up of six constituencies, three of which are in the running for the run-off. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The Burkinabè army destroyed during the week in Tanwalbougou (Gourma), a large terrorist base with important logistics and stolen trucks, the AIB learned Friday from security sources. South of Tanwalbougou in the province of Gourma, there was a large terrorist base. There were several trucks there, including tankers carefully camouflaged under trees. These vehicles had certainly been stolen a few years ago. During the week, the aerial vector rounds made it possible to find this nest of assassins also well stored in logistics. Fighter planes will carry out several strikes until the base is completely destroyed. After this great victory, the Combatant Forces continued their missions. Thus, criminals were detected in the Nadiagou area (Pama, Kompienga), on Friday February 2, 2024 thanks to precise information. The pilots waited until the end of their break in the early afternoon, before bombing them. The reconquest of territorial integrity is still underway, according to our sources. Sourc e: Burkina Information Agency

Niamey: The collective of determined young people from Niamey (CJDN) in collaboration with the religious leaders of Niger organized, this Friday, February 2, 2024, at the place of the resistance, a Collective prayer to celebrate the victory of Niger's withdrawal from ECOWAS. The prayer was led by Iman Oustaz Alio Idriss in the presence of several religious leaders and actors from Nigerien civil society. After the koutouba, and the two rakats, invocations and readings of the Koran followed by preaching and kounout were said, so that peace reigns in our country. At the end of the prayer, the president of the said movement (CJDN) Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar indicated that "we carried out our 30th activity of reading the Koran, kounout, preaching and raising awareness among the Nigerien population in collaboration with preachers. It is no secret that last Sunday Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger made a joint declaration in which the three countries were withdrawing from ECOWAS. 'Today it is a source of pride for us, this decision that the population has been waiting for a long time, the withdrawal of Niger from ECOWAS, since ECOWAS does not bring us anything, we should know that there was a time when our country was in the Insecurity, ECOWAS has never issued a press release to show its compassion for what is happening in Niger, instead of ECOWAS bringing us comfort in the face of all the situations we have suffered in Niger. The latter with the collaboration of some heads of state of African countries, puts in Nigeria to inflict cynical inhumane and illegal sanctions against our country. 'I would like to appeal to the entire Nigerien population that it is still time to fight, this is not the time to give up. It is now time for Nigeriens to take our responsibility into their own hands to provide our unwavering support to the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland CNSP.' Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The outgoing president of the Higher Communication Council (CSC), Abdoulazize Bamogo, took stock of his mandate on Thursday, marked in particular by the adoption of four major texts. Abdoulazize Bamogo, outgoing president of the Superior Council of Communication (CSC) passed the torch to his replacement Idrissa Ouédraogo during a handover ceremony on Thursday February 1, 2024 in Ouagadougou. During the ceremony, Mr. Bamogo, taking stock, declared that he had focused on the adoption and popularization of four reference texts. The first text concerns the seven points of attention intended for media actors to take into account the social responsibility of the media. The second is the charter of good conduct for faith-based media. The third is the guide to managing confessional media content in non-denominational media. The fourth text concerns the 12 tips for Burkinabè citizens on responsible behavior to adopt on social networks and in direct expression broadcasts. For Abdoulazize Bamogo, the adoption of these texts aims to lead media professionals and fellow Internet users to have more responsible communication practices in view of the national context marked by the security crisis. He also thanked his colleagues and congratulated the incoming office by providing them with advice. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: National news was marked last week by the holding of the International Cotton and Textile Exhibition (SICOT). The third of its kind, the event took place on January 26 and 27, 2024 in Koudougou. The theme chosen is: 'Local cotton processing: what industrialization models for Africa within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)?' The demonstration was attended by the head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. On the occasion, President Traoré reiterated his 'commitment to support and accompany any initiative involving all stakeholders in the cotton value chain and aimed at the local processing of cotton in Burkina Faso and throughout Africa'. SICOT 2024 comes at a time when initiatives aimed at promoting the traditional loincloth, the Faso danfani, are legion. As an illustration, the recent decision at the University to replace the usual togas made from imported fabrics with those made from Faso danfani. The launching ceremony of the new unique gown of higher education ins titutions in Faso danfan took place on November 28, 2023, at the University of Prof. Joseph KI-ZERBO in Ouagadougou. Before that, there was the government measure to have schools wear the Faso danfani. Indeed, the Burkinabè government decided, on June 9, 2023, in the Council of Ministers, to wear the Faso danfani, in all public and private post-primary and secondary education establishments in certain urban municipalities. It appears that the measure is intended to be non-binding and progressive. It should be effective from the start of the 2023-2024 school year. To begin with, four pilot municipalities are concerned. These are the urban communes of Koudougou, Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, as well as the rural commune of Sabou. Through this measure, the government intends to cultivate the wearing of the traditional loincloth from a young age. It also wants to promote the production and consumption of local fabrics with a view to endogenous development in Burkina Faso. What could be more normal than that the majority of Burkinabè people welcomed the government decision. There were practically no protests, at least open ones. However, four months after the measurement came into force, the findings are striking. While some establishments have implemented it, others are still dragging their feet. There is no shortage of arguments to explain the slowness of application. Those of the arguments that come up most often relate to the availability and accessibility of the loincloth. Regarding the cost, it must be recognized that for certain parents of students with modest incomes, the wearing of Faso danfani, especially by a student, can be considered a luxury, if indeed the prices of Faso danfani, the real, remain what we know . To remedy this reality, certain school leaders have developed initiatives. These aim to allow parents of students to be able to make the Faso danfani outfit available to their children. This is the case of a school in Bobo-Dioulasso where the promoter declares having subsidized the farcloths to t he tune of 1000 CFA each for the first willing students. Everything that has enabled a good number of students to acquire the outfit and wear it every Monday, as stipulated in the implementing text.For his part, the President of the special delegation (PDS) of Sabou, in the Center-West region, said he had resorted to a call for donations which made it possible to have more than 300 Faso danfani farcloths, to more than one and a half million CFA francs, for the benefit of internally displaced students, orphaned and other vulnerable students. These are initiatives that can be duplicated in many other schools, in order to overcome the difficulties of access to the Faso danfani farcloth for the benefit of students. In any case, if we want the wearing of the traditional woven loincloth made in Burkina Faso to become widespread in schools, it is appropriate to continue promotion and awareness, while adding initiatives in this direction. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The Burkinabè Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabé Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré transmitted a message from President Ibrahim Traoré to his counterpart from Niger, Abdourahamane Tiani, according to the Nigerien Agency for press. The meeting between General Abdourahamane Tiani and the head of Burkinabe diplomacy, 'bearer of a message from the Burkinabe president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré'. took place on February 1, 2024 in the presence of Alio Daouda, Nigerien Minister of Justice and Human Rights, reports the ANP. 'At the end of this interview, the Burkinabe diplomat did not make a statement to the press,' specifies the ANP Burkina, Niger and Mali have agreed to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) having already created the Alliance of Sahel States to defend their strategic interests in close ranks common. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: National news was marked last week by the holding of the International Cotton and Textile Exhibition (SICOT). The third of its kind, the event took place on January 26 and 27, 2024 in Koudougou. The theme chosen is: 'Local cotton processing: what industrialization models for Africa within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)?' The demonstration was attended by the head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. On the occasion, President Traoré reiterated his 'commitment to support and accompany any initiative involving all stakeholders in the cotton value chain and aimed at the local processing of cotton in Burkina Faso and throughout Africa'. SICOT 2024 comes at a time when initiatives aimed at promoting the traditional loincloth, the Faso danfani, are legion. As an illustration, the recent decision at the University to replace the usual togas made from imported fabrics with those made from Faso danfani. The launching ceremony of the new unique gown of higher education ins titutions in Faso danfan took place on November 28, 2023, at the University of Prof. Joseph KI-ZERBO in Ouagadougou. Before that, there was the government measure to have schools wear the Faso danfani. Indeed, the Burkinabè government decided, on June 9, 2023, in the Council of Ministers, to wear the Faso danfani, in all public and private post-primary and secondary education establishments in certain urban municipalities. It appears that the measure is intended to be non-binding and progressive. It should be effective from the start of the 2023-2024 school year. To begin with, four pilot municipalities are concerned. These are the urban communes of Koudougou, Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, as well as the rural commune of Sabou. Through this measure, the government intends to cultivate the wearing of the traditional loincloth from a young age. It also wants to promote the production and consumption of local fabrics with a view to endogenous development in Burkina Faso. What could be more normal than that the majority of Burkinabè people welcomed the government decision. There were practically no protests, at least open ones. However, four months after the measurement came into force, the findings are striking. While some establishments have implemented it, others are still dragging their feet. There is no shortage of arguments to explain the slowness of application. Those of the arguments that come up most often relate to the availability and accessibility of the loincloth. Regarding the cost, it must be recognized that for certain parents of students with modest incomes, the wearing of Faso danfani, especially by a student, can be considered a luxury, if indeed the prices of Faso danfani, the real, remain what we know . To remedy this reality, certain school leaders have developed initiatives. These aim to allow parents of students to be able to make the Faso danfani outfit available to their children. This is the case of a school in Bobo-Dioulasso where the promoter declares having subsidized the farcloths to t he tune of 1000 CFA each for the first willing students. Everything that has enabled a good number of students to acquire the outfit and wear it every Monday, as stipulated in the implementing text.For his part, the President of the special delegation (PDS) of Sabou, in the Center-West region, said he had resorted to a call for donations which made it possible to have more than 300 Faso danfani farcloths, to more than one and a half million CFA francs, for the benefit of internally displaced students, orphaned and other vulnerable students. These are initiatives that can be duplicated in many other schools, in order to overcome the difficulties of access to the Faso danfani farcloth for the benefit of students. In any case, if we want the wearing of the traditional woven loincloth made in Burkina Faso to become widespread in schools, it is appropriate to continue promotion and awareness, while adding initiatives in this direction. Source: Burkina Information Agency Preparations for the 2024/2025 academic year were at heart of a small Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani at the Government Palace in Kasbah on Thursday. The Prime Minister stressed the need to create all "favourable conditions and ensure optimal readiness on the organisational, financial and logistical fronts to ensure the success of the coming academic year," according to a statement from the Prime Ministry. During the meeting, the national paper needs were discussed and the readiness of the National Cellulose and Esparto Paper Company (SNCPA) was reviewed. It was emphasised that the company should play its role in providing all the necessary materials for the production of subsidised textbooks and exercise books. It was decided following this cabinet meeting to maintain the prices of textbooks and exercise books subsidised for the next school year (2024/2025). The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance Sihem Boughdiri Namsia, Minister of Social Affairs Malek Zahi, Minister of Economy and Planning Feryel Ouerghi, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub and Minister of Education Mohamed Ali Boughdiri. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse