Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso — A new runoff water collector is under construction at the Ouezzin Coulibaly camp in Bobo-Dioulasso, initiated by a government delegation on Monday to help prevent flooding in the area.

According to Burkina Information Agency, head of the government delegation and Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the collector is designed to manage runoff water originating from the watersheds on the south side of the camp. This project, executed by military engineers, aims to alleviate the extensive damage caused by water within the camp and the surrounding town. "This water collector will help counter flooding situations at the Ouezzin Coulibaly camp and in the town of Bobo-Dioulasso," declared General Coulibaly during the launch.

General Coulibaly also emphasized the importance of the work's quality and adherence to the strict completion timeline of ten days. He acknowledged the financial contributions from private sector entities that are supporting the cleanup of the retention basin at the camp and the gutters in the town of Sya.

The project has garnered support from the local municipality and the technical services of the ministries in charge of Urban Planning and Infrastructure, who have reassured the government of the proper execution of the work. The government team overseeing this initiative includes Brigadier General Kassoum Coulibaly, Mikaïlou Sidibé, Minister of Urban Planning, and Mathias Traoré, Secretary General of the Government.

This decision to construct the water collector followed a meeting on August 24, 2024, between economic operators from the Hauts-Bassins region and the government delegation, after torrential rains on June 9, 2024, led to significant flooding in Bobo-Dioulasso.