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Burkina Faso

31 May 2018

Violent extremism in the Sahara-Sahel

Country:
Burkina Faso
Chad
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Topics:
Sahara-Sahel
Security
Terrorism
SWAC:
SWAC
Body:
Numerous extremists groups are active across the Sahara-Sahel area and in the Lake Chad region. Most are extremely mobile and operate easily across national territories because of the porous nature of national borders in the region. Their actions are being increasingly constrained by military responses launched by national governments in alliance with international partners. Read on
15 May 2018

Press freedom in West Africa: Ghana best

Country:
Burkina Faso
Cabo Verde
Ghana
Topics:
Culture & Society
Democracy & Peace
SWAC:
SWAC
Body:
According to the World Press Freedom Index 2018, which ranks 180 countries worldwide, the level of media freedom was categorised as “fairly good” in three West African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde and Ghana. These countries achieved better or similar scores than many OECD member countries. Read on
14 May 2018

Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali launch special economic zone

Country:
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire
Mali
Topics:
Agriculture & Fisheries
Cross-border co-operation
Economy
Infrastructure
Regional integration
Body:
On 14 May, the three Prime Ministers of Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali launched a special economic zone in the SKBo triangle, composed of the regions of Sikasso (Mali), Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) and Korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire). It is the first special economic zone in West Africa that operates across borders. Read on
30 Apr 2018

West African microfinance networks create regional institute

Country:
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire
Mali
Senegal
Togo
Topics:
Economy
Body:
Six West African microfinance networks joined forces to create a new regional institute, the Financière de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Based in Dakar, the new financing institute will start with 4.5 million clients and 800 points of sale. Read on
27 Apr 2018

ECOWAS, AFD launch agro-ecological transition support project

Country:
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire
Mali
Senegal
Togo
Topics:
Agriculture & Fisheries
Climate & Climate change
Environment
Food security & Nutrition
Members:
ECOWAS
France
Body:
Launched on 27 April in Abuja, the EUR 8 million programme will finance field projects that support agro-ecological intensification on family farms in five West African countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Togo. Read on
22 Mar 2018

World Water Day: The answer is in nature

Country:
Burkina Faso
Mali
Topics:
Agriculture & Fisheries
Climate & Climate change
Environment
Body:
On 22 March, the 25th World Water Day promoted nature-based solutions to address the world’s water challenges. “How can we reduce floods, droughts and water pollution? By using the solutions we already find in nature” was the official theme. The importance of water is self-evident in the Sahel and West Africa region, which faces a large number of water challenges. Read on
02 Mar 2018

Two deadly attacks in Ouagadougou

Country:
Burkina Faso
Topics:
Security
Terrorism
Body:
On 2 March, Ouagadougou once again experienced two deadly attacks. A vehicule packed with explosives was placed in front of the army’s headquarters and a group of jihadists attacked the area around the French Embassy. According to the Burkinabe Ministry of Security’s official report, eight Burkinabe soldiers were killed in the attacks and about 80 people, including some civilians, were injured. Read on
02 Mar 2018

Burkina Faso: “One attack too many”

Country:
Burkina Faso
Topics:
Democracy & Peace
Sahara-Sahel
Security
Terrorism
Opinion:
Opinion
Body:
In this article published by a Burkinabe online platform, Newton Ahmend Barry, president of the country’s independent National Electoral Commission, analyses the double attack that took place on 2 March in Ouagadougou. “We are wrong to believe that France or the G5 Sahel will solve our problems. No people in the world has ever been rescued by another people,” Barry wrote. Read on
06 Feb 2018

G5 Sahel calls for international support

Country:
Burkina Faso
Chad
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Topics:
Democracy & Peace
Regional integration
Resilience
Sahara-Sahel
Security
Terrorism
Body:
The five presidents from G5 Sahel countries met on 6 February in Niamey, Niger at the 4th ordinary session of the Heads of State Conference. Discussions focused on ensuring sustainable funding for the recently launched G5 Sahel Joint Force. G5 leaders already approved its operational set-up, the creation of a dedicated trust fund, the creation of a regional police academy in Chad and a G5 Sahel Defence College in Mauritania. Read on
06 Feb 2018

The G5 Sahel and its joint force

Country:
Burkina Faso
Chad
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Topics:
Cross-border co-operation
Democracy & Peace
Regional integration
Resilience
Sahara-Sahel
Security
Terrorism
Body:
On 16 February 2014, the heads of state of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger met in Nouakchott to create the G5 Sahel, a regional body designed to co-ordinate strategies and policies on defence, security, governance, infrastructure and resilience in the Sahel. The G5 Sahel officially launched its joint force at an extraordinary summit on 2 July 2017. There is still a significant budget shortfall to make the force fully operational. Mobilising the necessary troops that will make up the joint force battalions is yet another challenge. Read on