OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – Experts from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), encompassing Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger, commenced a three-day preparatory meeting in Ouagadougou on Monday, ahead of the AES ministers’ meeting slated for Thursday, February 15, 2024.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, the gathering was inaugurated by Ambassador Issa Boro, the Secretary General of the Ministry. The session serves as a precursor to the ministerial conference, focusing on crucial agenda items including the governance texts of the AES and the establishment of a Confederation uniting the three nations.
Ambassador Boro urged the delegates from the three countries to approach the discussions with a spirit of brotherhood and thoroughness, emphasizing the paramount importance of their populations’ welfare in their deliberations. The representatives from Niger and Mali, Ambassadors Ousmane Alhassane and Mohamed Traoré respectively, expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to them and lauded the commitment of the highest authorities from the AES member states towards fostering regional stability and development through the proposed Confederation.
Bobo-Dioulasso – The French Institute in Bobo-Dioulasso held a press conference on its premises on Friday, February 9, 2024, to announce the phased resumption of its cultural activities. This event marked a significant moment for the city of Sya and its residents, signaling the start of a renewed cultural chapter after the institute had to close its doors due to events stemming from the coup d’état on September 30, 2022.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the new deputy director who assumed his role in early January, the conference gathered journalists, members of the artistic community, local officials, and culture enthusiasts to discuss the institute’s plans for the year. Bernard, who is based in Ouagadougou, emphasized his commitment to regularly visit Bobo-Dioulasso to oversee the gradual revival of the institute’s offerings.
The institute’s team, which includes ten technical staff members among which four are dedicated to the media library, three agents, and three administrative personnel, will support the relaunch efforts. Bernard outlined a series of initiatives aimed at gradually reopening the institute’s facilities and services throughout 2024.
Key elements of the relaunch strategy include enhancing the media library’s activities, which will operate during regular hours and host new workshops and film screenings for youth. The cinema room is set to reopen with a schedule of two films per week starting February 22. Additionally, the institute plans to renew its partnership with the Sogossira Sanou municipal museum in March and April and will occasionally reopen its main stage for artist residencies.
Bernard also mentioned that the institute would strengthen its security measures to ensure a safe and peaceful experience for visitors. This announcement comes after the institute’s premises were vandalized in October 2022 following the coup, which necessitated a temporary closure.
KAKAMEGA – Kakamega County has embarked on an ambitious project to enhance living conditions in the Amalemba and Kambi Somali slums, with a focus on infrastructure improvements.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative, backed by a Sh116 million grant from the World Bank through the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP), aims to upgrade roads, sewer lines, security lighting, and water access within the town’s slum areas. Governor Fernandes Barasa, during the project’s launch, expressed gratitude towards the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) for their support. He highlighted the importance of providing residents within the project areas with title deeds, ensuring land ownership and enhancing the dignity of the community members.
The project’s launch marks a significant step forward after previous proposals in 2013 and 2017 failed to materialize. Governor Barasa called on the contractor to engage local residents in the construction process, ensuring community involvement and job creation. This initiative is part of a broader county strategy, including a 10-kilometer road construction project per ward, with a total investment exceeding Sh. 600 million, and a housing program aimed at building 360 low-cost houses annually.
In his speech, Governor Barasa also addressed the need for adequate funding from the national government, urging for the release of a proposed Sh. 450 billion equitable share to support county development projects. This call for increased funding comes in light of rejected proposals by the National Treasury, which the governor argued did not reflect the rise in revenue collection, inflation, or the cost of living.
Dr. Mariam Barasa, the County Executive Committee Member-in-Charge of Land, Housing, Urban Areas, and Physical Planning, and Engineer Joash Wende, the KISIP Regional Representative, both emphasized the project’s potential to significantly improve living standards for residents. They urged community support and cooperation with contractors to ensure timely and efficient project completion.
Engineer Wende outlined the project’s commitment to quality, safety, and adherence to timelines, highlighting the role of the County Project Implementation Coordination Team and the Settlement Executive Committee (SEC) in overseeing the project’s progress.
The KISIP initiative in Kakamega represents a comprehensive effort to address the challenges faced by residents of informal settlements, promising improved infrastructure and a better quality of life for the community.