Dédougou, Burkina Faso – Citizens of Dédougou, grouped under the Patriotic Coordination of Civil Society Associations for Support of the Transition (CPASST), gathered on Saturday, January 20, 2024, to express their backing for the Transition authorities, the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). The event marked the third such gathering in Dédougou, highlighting the city’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Transition process currently underway in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, demonstrators paraded through the main streets of Dédougou, carrying flags of Burkina Faso, member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and Russia. The procession halted at key locations including the central police station and the city’s Territorial Gendarmerie Brigade. Here, participants paid homage to the FDS and VDP members who have sacrificed their lives for the nation.
At ‘Place melon gare’, representatives from various community segments, including traditional leaders, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, and the event’s coordinator, took turns honoring the efforts of the Transition for Burkina Faso’s independence. The Transition authorities were commended for their initiatives aimed at regaining territorial integrity, undertaking reforms, and promoting public participation in governance.
Fatin Thébo, the event’s coordinator, praised the Military-Political System for the Renaissance (MPSR2) for instilling hope among Burkinabè citizens. Thébo emphasized the MPSR2’s initial commitment to addressing the nation’s challenges and providing viable solutions. He acknowledged the establishment of the patriotic support fund, the adoption of the new land law, and the initiation of the gold refinery construction as significant achievements.
Thébo urged all societal groups to continue their unwavering support for the Transition authorities, FDS, and VDP. He specifically called on the youth to actively engage in supporting these entities to fully realize their mission of aiding the afflicted populations. Additionally, he encouraged women from the Boucle du Mouhoun region to contribute actively to the fight for peace, security, and social cohesion.
Furthermore, Thébo appealed to the authorities to prioritize securing and clearing access routes to various provincial capitals in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. The demonstrators also expressed their support for the national football team, the Stallions, and collected a sum of 1,094,825 CFA francs for the Patriotic Support Fund.
PÔ, Nahouri – In a significant step towards sustainable forest management, the special delegation of Pô unanimously adopted the local management charter for the ‘Timouna’ forest in the village of Songo 2. This decision was reached during their first extraordinary session of 2024, held on Tuesday, January 16, in the commune of Pô.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Valérie Bama, this session was crucial for the future of the Timouna forest. In her opening remarks, Bama emphasized the importance of frank and productive discussions among the members. The adoption of this charter aims to benefit the local populations, ensuring the sustainable management of forest resources.
Bama further stated that the charter is expected to bolster social cohesion and peace among rural stakeholders involved in the forest’s exploitation. It also aims to promote good governance of natural resources and support the development of the municipality in a concerted, harmonious, sustainable, and equitable manner.
Lionel Bahoupè Tahoura, president of the environment and local development commission, presented the Songo 2 village land charter. He highlighted that its development was a collaborative and consensual process. The charter outlines various actions and activities focused on preserving the forest’s natural resources.
The unanimous vote by the twenty members of the special delegation present marked a commitment to the sustainable exploitation and management of the Songo 2 forest. The traditional chief of the village of Songo 2, who attended the session, expressed his satisfaction with the initiative. He committed to working with the entire village population to ensure the charter’s effective implementation, emphasizing its benefits for current and future generations.
The development of this charter was supported by the general directorate of land, training, and rural organization. A management committee will be established to collaborate with the local populations and rural technical services in implementing the various activities outlined in the charter.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – Burkina Faso is set to officially commence operations of a new mining residue processing plant located in the Kossodo industrial zone of Ouagadougou. The inauguration is scheduled for January 23, 2024, as confirmed by official sources to AIB.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the launch event will be overseen by President Ibrahim Traoré. The Golden Hand factory, designed to extract remaining precious metals from mining residues, is at the heart of this initiative. The plant’s commissioning signifies a strategic move to optimize the extraction of the country’s mineral resources and to reinforce the implementation of local content in the mining sector.
The plant’s establishment follows an arrangement with the Essakane company, allowing Burkina Faso to process several hundred tons of fine coal, in addition to the residues produced by various mining units across the country. This development comes in the wake of the 2018 seizure of 32 containers of fine coal, which raised suspicions of concealed gold and silver in these residues and expedited the construction of the treatment facility.
Furthermore, the Burkinabe government has implemented regulations to oversee the processing of mining residues in Burkina Faso. These measures extend to the broader scope of production, processing, and marketing of gold within the country, aiming to enhance the management and utilization of Burkina Faso’s mineral wealth.