Cyclists Celebrate AES Prize at Tour du Faso Endorsed by President Ibrahim Traoré

BOBO-DIOULASSO — The cycling community at the 34th International Tour du Faso has expressed unanimous appreciation for the introduction of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) prize, an initiative by the transitional President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the sporting director of the Mali national cycling team, Drissa Koné, commended the move by President Traoré, stating that the establishment of the AES prize sends a strong message of unity among the Sahel countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Koné underscored the symbolic eradication of borders, suggesting a merging of identities among the nations.

Burkinabè cyclist Paul Daumont expressed his personal elation at securing the AES prize, interpreting it as a testament to the nation’s spirit of freedom and resilience. For Daumont, the accolade is not just a personal triumph but a communal affirmation of the year’s guiding principles.

Nigerien cyclist Seydou Ibrahim reflected on the larger implication of the prize, viewing it as a symbol of the shared familial bond between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, fostering social cohesion beyond competitive sports.

Captain Karim Souabo, the general director of the National Fund for the Promotion of Sport and Leisure (FNPSL), who was instrumental in the establishment of the award, clarified that the aim is to attract cyclists to Burkina Faso and to commemorate the collective strife of the three countries against terrorism, which has affected the region since 2013.

The AES prize comes in the wake of a defense pact signed last September by the three Sahel countries, an alliance forged to counteract the threats to their territorial integrity by terrorist activities.