Sahel States Experts Convene in Ouagadougou for Preparatory MeetingFrench Institute in Bobo-Dioulasso Announces Resumption of Cultural Activities
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.