KOUDOUGOU — At the International Cotton and Textile Fair (SICOT 2024), held on January 26 and 27, the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, urged economic operators in Burkina Faso to commit to the local processing of the nation’s cotton production.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina Faso, the call to action came during a meeting with President Traoré on the sidelines of the fair. Sawadogo, who led a delegation of businessmen, discussed with the Head of State about the industrialization of cotton and the necessary resources for its local processing to add value to the product. He also conveyed to the President the best wishes of the business community for the year 2024 and their support for his mission.
The statement from the communications department of the Presidency of Faso highlighted that Captain Traoré, an advocate for sovereign and endogenous development, has previously encouraged Burkinabe businessmen to invest in agricultural production. This push towards local processing of cotton comes at a time when Burkina Faso, with a production of 404 tonnes in the 2022-2023 season, stands as a significant global producer of cotton. However, only a small fraction of this production is currently processed within the country, indicating a substantial opportunity for growth and development in the local textile industry.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – In a significant legal development, six student strikers were convicted on Saturday by the TGI of Ouaga I for endangering lives during protests in December 2023.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the students were involved in unrest that has become a regular occurrence in December for the past two decades. These strikes, organized annually by students, are in demand for justice for journalist Norbert Zongo and student Flavien Nebié. This year’s protests led to the arrest of several participants, who were subsequently brought before the court on January 27, 2024.
The primary accusation against the students was endangering their fellow students and others through the possession and use of tear gas grenades. Following the court’s deliberation and assessment of the charges, a verdict was reached. The individual identified as having thrown grenades in two schools, resulting in injuries, received a sentence of six months in prison and a fine of 500,000 FCFA, both suspended. The other five students involved in the incident were sentenced to three months in prison and the same fine of 500,000 FCFA, also suspended.
The sentencing marks a notable moment in addressing the recurring December student protests and raises questions about the balance between the right to protest and public safety. This legal action signifies the government’s stance on maintaining order while dealing with public demonstrations, especially when they pose a risk to safety.