Manni: The women of the commune of Manni celebrated the 169th International Women's Day on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Burkina Faso under the theme: "Building lasting peace in Burkina Faso: what contribution of women and girls to the promotion of living together?".

According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony, organised by the Manni Departmental Coordination of Women, saw a strong mobilisation of administrative, customary and religious authorities, the Defence and Security Forces as well as the population. In his address, the prefect and president of the special municipal delegation of Manni, Mr. Emmanuel Tindano, praised the resilience and commitment of women in a context marked by security challenges. He emphasized that women remain essential actors in consolidating peace and social cohesion. 'Peace is built through education, mediation and solidarity. In Manni, women contribute every day to preserving social cohesion by supporting their families and welcoming internally displaced persons,' he said.

Speaking on behalf of the women, the departmental coordinator for women in Manni, Ms. Dabongou Viviane Bourgou, highlighted the main difficulties they face, including insufficient income-generating activities, difficulties in accessing domestic energy sources, and constraints related to the security situation. She also made several demands concerning the opening of the access road to the town, the strengthening of the technical facilities of the maternity ward and the medical center, the construction of a women's house for the benefit of women's cooperatives, and the development of a production area.

In a show of solidarity, the Manni Departmental Coordination of Women donated one and a half tons of rice to the Combatant Forces, in recognition of their commitment to defending the population and the integrity of the territory. Additionally, half a ton of rice was given to the widows of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) who fell in the line of duty.

The special municipal delegation also contributed to social support by distributing 14 bags of rice to 14 vulnerable women and providing 15 complete soap-making kits to 15 young girls, aiming to promote self-employment and income-generating activities. Through this celebration, the women of Manni reaffirmed their determination to work for peace, solidarity and social cohesion in Burkina Faso.