AES and ECOWAS foreign ministers meet in Lomé to discuss regional cooperation
via Lefaso.net2 min read
Foreign ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States AES and officials from the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS met in Lomé on Friday, April 17, 2026, to explore cooperation prospects for the benefit of West African populations. The meeting, held alongside the Togo-Sahel strategy meeting, included Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey, and his AES counterparts Abdoulaye Diop, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, and Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré. ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray and recently appointed chief negotiator Lansana Kouyaté also participated. The initially informal meeting introduced the chief negotiator to the AES ministers, who then heard from him to ensure a convergence of views on his mission's objectives and content. Discussions emphasized preserving regional integration achievements and promoting the well-being of West African populations. Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, which holds the AES presidency, stated that the AES remains open to dialogue, in line with its commitment made at the Bamako meeting, to preserve essential elements for the overall well-being of West African populations. The parties agreed to work towards establishing a formal cooperation framework to serve as a legal basis for relations between the AES and ECOWAS. The AES ministers reaffirmed their openness to dialogue, respecting the directives of their highest authorities. Togo expressed its willingness to act as a facilitator,
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Dr. Abdul Muzine Samadoulougou, a general practitioner, highlights the growing dangers of self-medication, particularly with the influence of the internet and social media. According to the World Health Organization WHO, self-medication involves an individual choosing and using medication for a self-identified ailment or symptom without professional medical advice. A 2023 study in Burkina Faso by Yaméogo AR and colleagues found that approximately 55% of respondents practiced self-medication. Common reasons for self-medication in Burkina Faso include financial constraints, difficulty accessing doctors, distance to health centers, and reliance on advice from acquaintances and the internet. The easy availability of medicines from street vendors also contributes to the problem. People frequently self-medicate for fever, pain headaches, dental pain, coughs, diarrhea, and malaria. Commonly used medications without prescriptions include paracetamol, anti-inflammatories like diclofenac and ibuprofen, and antibiotics such as amoxicillin and metronidazole, as well as antimalarials. The dangers of self-medication include masking serious illnesses, delaying proper diagnosis, causing side effects, leading to poisoning especially from street-sold medicines stored in heat, and promoting antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Samadoulougou warns that incorrect dosages can lead to organ damage, citing paracetamol's hepatotoxicity in overdose and the nephrotoxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory dr
Amir Abdou, a French-Comorian professional football coach born on July 8, 1972, officially took command of the Burkina Faso national football team, the Stallions, in March. His two-year contract aims to elevate the team to the top, with clear objectives including qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations CAN and potentially the next World Cup. Abdou replaces Brama Traoré as the Burkinabe coach. Abdou's career highlights include leading the Comoros team to their first CAN participation and achieving success with Mauritania, also enabling their national team to play in the CAN. He also coached FC Nouadhibou from 2020 to 2022 and Hassania Agadir in Morocco between 2025 and 2026. While the Stallions reached the CAN final in 2013 and semi-finals in 2017 and 2021, qualifying for the 2030 World Cup presents a greater challenge due to fierce African competition from teams like Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Morocco. Abdou is known for his effective defense strategies, which could be crucial for the Stallions, especially with talented players like Edmond Tapsoba and Bertrand Traoré. The coach's arrival has generated some discussion regarding his ability to restore the team's prominence.
The Ouagadougou Museum of Photographic and Cinematographic Devices, located in Zone 1 behind the pediatric hospital, houses a personal collection that has become a significant attraction. Visitors can explore a wide array of vintage equipment, including projectors, radios, old cameras, and early mobile phones, all categorized to illustrate technological advancements through different eras. Mamoudou Kiemtoré, the site manager, explains that the museum offers a concrete discovery experience, allowing people to understand the origins of technology and see devices they might only know from television. Kiemtoré began collecting in 2016, and his collection has grown from 1,200-1,300 devices two years ago to between 2,300 and 2,500 pieces today. He has acquired items through auctions in Europe and assistance from contacts. The museum features cameras from the 1800s, highlighting the significant difference in use compared to modern digital photography. Kiemtoré notes that early photographic processes could take up to 30 minutes for a single photo, and film rolls were limited to a set number of exposures, unlike today's unlimited digital options. Notable vintage cameras in the collection include the Mamiya RB67, Minolta, Polaroid, Lubitel universal, Konica C35, Zenith, and Brownie flash camera. Beyond technical aspects, these devices tell a human story, impacting how we perceive the world and allowing us to revisit past events. Kiemtoré views his work as a passion, preserving instrume
Must ReadBurkina Faso's Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, met with Ibrahim Manzo Diallo, President of Niger's National Communication Observatory, in Ouagadougou on April 20, 2026. The meeting focused on communication challenges within the Alliance of Sahel States AES Confederation. Introduced by Louis Modeste Ouédraogo, President of the Superior Council of Communication, the discussion aimed to establish a common platform for communication regulators from AES member countries. This initiative seeks to enhance cooperation to address disinformation, digital platforms, and information manipulation. The Prime Minister praised the approach, emphasizing the need for a coherent and sovereign information space within the AES and the importance of harmonizing regulatory texts and mechanisms. He urged regulators to act with responsibility, firmness, and commitment. Ibrahim Manzo Diallo called for unity among stakeholders to counter informational threats, affirming their commitment to a dynamic future despite destabilization attempts. Technical work in Ouagadougou is expected to produce a consensual document to guide this strategic cooperation among AES regulators.