SIKASSO, Mali — In the aftermath of the tragic accident on February 27 that claimed 42 lives, including Burkinabe nationals, a delegation of Burkinabe government officials visited Sikasso, Mali, to attend the victims’ burial and support the injured. The group, as reported on Friday by the AIB, consisted of four ministers: Nandy Somé/Diallo, Minister in charge of Solidarity and Family; Roland A. Somda, Minister of Transport and Road Safety; Stella Kabré/Kaboré, Minister Delegate in charge of Regional Cooperation; and Dr. Robert Kargougou, Minister of Health.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the delegation was welcomed by the Malian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Demblélé Nadine Sissoko. During their visit, the Burkinabe ministers went to the Sikasso hospital to provide support to the injured still receiving treatment there and later attended the burial of some victims at the cemetery in the Lafiabougou district of Sikasso. The accident not only resulted in 42 fatalities but also left 28 individuals injured.
Minister Nandy Somé expressed gratitude towards the Malian authorities, the Burkinabe community in Sikasso, and all those who showed solidarity and compassion in the wake of this devastating event. She conveyed condolences on behalf of Burkina Faso’s transitional government and wished a swift recovery to the injured.
The accident occurred on the evening of February 27, 2024, when a truck carrying 80 people, including Malians and Burkinabe, destined for Burkina Faso, overturned off a bridge over the Bagoé river on the Sikasso-Bougouni axis near Koumantou in southern Mali. In response to this tragedy, Minister Demblélé Nadine Sissoko stated that measures are being implemented to enhance road safety, especially at the Sikasso crossroads, a crucial junction for major routes connecting Bamako to Abidjan, Bobo-Accra, and Ouaga-Lomé.
