🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Burkina Faso implements new measures to address cement supply shortages and combat illicit practices
via Lefaso.net5 min read
Burkina Faso is experiencing cement supply difficulties despite having eight production units. In response, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Crafts, through the Mobile Brigade for Economic Control and Fraud Repression BMCRF, held a press conference on June 11, 2026, to announce new measures. These measures, effective immediately, require cement producers to provide daily detailed information on production and distribution, including lists of wholesalers, quantities sold, prices, and transportation details. A specific form has been distributed to all cement factories to ensure transparency in distribution channels and product availability. The official prices for cement remain unchanged at 100,000 FCFA/tonne for CPJ and 115,000 FCFA/tonne for CPA 45. Sanibé Faho, General Coordinator of the BMCRF, emphasized the public's role in combating speculation, urging consumers not to purchase cement above regulated prices and to report illicit practices. He noted that consumers who buy at inflated prices contribute to the problem. The BMCRF's diagnosis revealed illicit commercial practices, including delays in customs procedures for raw materials, energy supply disruptions, a decrease in truck availability, and high consumer demand. While initial discussions with cement factories pointed to corridor blockades as the main issue, further investigation revealed electricity supply as a primary constraint. Collaboration between cement producers and the National Electricity Company of
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The Commission on General, Institutional Affairs, and Human Rights of the People's Legislative Assembly in Burkina Faso has advanced its review of the religious freedom bill, initially adopted by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, March 19, 2026. On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the commission began hearing from stakeholders, including the Supreme Council of Customary and Traditional Chiefs and the Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina FAIB. Both organizations commended the legislative initiative, viewing it as a significant step forward for regulating religious freedoms and strengthening social cohesion. Beyond their positive reception, they also offered contributions. The customary chieftaincy emphasized the importance of widely disseminating the future law after its adoption to ensure its appropriation by all populations, including those in remote areas. The FAIB provided a detailed, article-by-article analysis of the text, proposing rewordings and additions to better regulate the practice of worship and ensure peaceful religious observance.
The first session of 2026 for the digital finance consultation framework is taking place in Ouagadougou on June 11, focusing on risks associated with the digitalization of financial products and services and approaches to reduce consumer vulnerability. Digital financial services have seen rapid growth in Burkina Faso, with electronic payment solutions, mobile wallets, and digital platforms for savings, credit, and insurance expanding access to financial services. According to BCEAO data, digital platforms processed nearly 1.9 billion transactions valued at 16,639 billion CFA francs in 2023. In 2024, the country had over 149,000 mobile money service points and more than 23 million registered accounts, highlighting digital finance's strategic role in financial inclusion. However, this growth also brings new challenges, including electronic fraud, identity theft, cyberattacks, personal data breaches, manipulation errors, and opaque commercial practices. Souleymane Nabollé, technical advisor representing the Minister of Economy and Finance and president of the consultation framework, emphasized that no financial system can thrive without user trust, making security, transparency, and consumer protection collective responsibilities for public and private actors. The consultation will feature two panels: one on effective and secure digitalization of financial products and services, examining regulatory frameworks, stakeholder responsibilities, successful digital transformation, and
Must ReadSeplat Energy's board of directors announced today that Tony Elumelu has been elected as the company's next chairman, succeeding Udoma Udo Udoma, the current board chairman, effective January 2027. The board also appointed Effiong Okon as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026. These leadership changes were disclosed in a notice filed with Nigerian Exchange Limited NGX and signed by company secretary Edith Onwuchekwa. Elumelu is the founder and chairman of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment group with interests in energy, power, banking, insurance and financial services, technology, real estate, hospitality, and healthcare. He is also the originator of "Africapitalism," an economic philosophy advocating for Africa's potential through long-term investments in key sectors. Elumelu currently chairs Transcorp Group, Nigeria's largest listed conglomerate, which includes Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc. He also chairs the pan-African financial services group United Bank for Africa UBA Group. Okon, the new Chief Executive Officer, brings over 35 years of international industry expertise, with a background in operational excellence and strategic implementation. He has been with Seplat since 2018, serving as Operations Director for four years and then as Director of New Energy. Most recently, he was the Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company AGPC, where he led the project to first gas production in January 2026. Elumelu's experience in corporate gov