Bam: Researchers and experts in Kongoussi are considering a sustainable restoration of Lake Bam. The city of Kongoussi hosted, on April 23 and 24, 2026, an international symposium dedicated to Lake Bam, initiated by the Laboratory for Research in Human and Social Sciences of Norbert Zongo University, around the theme "History, Heritage and Resilience", with the objective of proposing concrete solutions for its sustainable restoration in the face of existential threats.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Kongoussi meeting brought together researchers from Ivory Coast, Niger, Mali, Chad, and Benin. More than 70 presentations were given, focusing on nine themes including the history of the lake, its development, its tourism potential, its socio-economic contribution, and the prospects for its sustainable management. The symposium was marked by the inaugural lecture of Professor Alkassoum Maga, former Minister in charge of Scientific Research of Burkina Faso.
The discussions highlighted the major challenges linked to the progressive degradation of Lake Bam. Researchers emphasized the need for an integrated approach combining science, public policy, and community participation. For the chairman of the symposium's organizing committee, Dr. Noaga Birba, the choice of Kongoussi to hold the meeting aims to bring research closer to the realities experienced by the local populations and to propose appropriate solutions. "We wanted to give this conference an atypical character by organizing it outside of universities in order to connect research more closely to realities on the ground," he explained.
On the ground, local communities expressed their concerns about the degradation of the lake. Oscar Sawadogo, representing the residents and producers of Lake Bam, called for collective action. "Lake Bam is suffering today; it is clearly threatened. But with the support of researchers and academics, we are convinced that together, by joining our efforts, we can sustainably preserve this natural heritage for future generations," he said.
The symposium's work should lead to concrete recommendations that take into account the needs of the population and environmental requirements. All scientific contributions will also be published as articles of 7 to 15 pages, Dr. Noaga Birba explained. Several academic and political figures participated in this meeting, including Professor Filga Michel Sawadogo, Professor Georges Sawadogo, chairman of the scientific committee, Dr. Elyse Thombiano, and former president Jean-Baptiste Ou©draogo.
As a reminder, Lake Bam is the largest natural body of water in Burkina Faso. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2012. A project to restore, protect and enhance Lake Bam, launched in 2017 by the President of Burkina Faso, is still underway.