🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Catholic Relief Services and OCADES Caritas Dédougou launch "Relance au Sahel" project in Nayala province
via Lefaso.net4 min read
Catholic Relief Services and OCADES Caritas Dédougou officially launched the "Relance au Sahel" project on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Toma City Hall. The workshop aimed to secure community support and local authority commitment for effective implementation and lasting impact. The project, funded by Catholic Relief Services with a budget of 357,138 US dollars, will run for 12 months, from March 2026 to February 2027. It seeks to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable households, including internally displaced persons and host families, through economic recovery and social cohesion. Approximately 1,260 people from 210 households in Nayala province will benefit. Joseph Ilboudo, Programs Director for CRS Burkina, emphasized the need for rigorous execution and tangible results to improve beneficiaries' living conditions. The project aims to help beneficiaries transition from vulnerability to stability. OCADES Caritas Dédougou is responsible for implementation. According to Father André Toé, Diocesan Executive Secretary of OCADES Dédougou, this project builds on previous interventions like the Dewral project, focusing on strengthening capacities and income-generating activities to promote self-sufficiency rather than just providing temporary assistance. Honoré Frédéric Paré, High Commissioner of Nayala province, welcomed the initiative, noting its timely arrival to complement state actions for vulnerable populations. The "Relance au Sahel" project is also being implemented in M
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Must ReadMahamoud Ali Youssouf, President of the African Union Commission, is on his first visit to Burkina Faso since taking office. He was welcomed at Ouagadougou International Airport by Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Abroad, and Elysée Ouédraogo, Burkina Faso's Ambassador to the African Union. Youssouf stated that the visit demonstrates the pan-African organization's commitment to consolidating solidarity among member states to address common continental challenges. He emphasized Burkina Faso's important role as a founding member of the Organization of African Unity. During his stay, the President of the AU Commission will meet with Burkina Faso's highest authorities to discuss peace and security, regional integration, and strengthening relations between the AU and Burkina Faso. This visit is part of a tour of the Alliance of Sahel States AES, following a stop in Bamako, Mali, on July 14, 2026. The African Union aims to foster more sustained dialogue with AES countries amid efforts to find new dynamics for cooperation and consultation on major continental issues.
Riverstone Karma SA, owner and operator of the Karma open-pit gold mine in Burkina Faso, has secured the annulment of a contract with Franco-Nevada and Sandstorm Gold Ltd. The dispute arose from a complex contractual arrangement inherited by Néré Mining SA when it acquired the Karma mine in March 2022. The original contract, signed in 2014 by previous owners True Gold and Endeavour Mining, imposed obligations on the Karma mine, including a minimum duration of 40 years, automatic 15-year renewals, and the sale of gold at discounted prices. This agreement, initially for a $100 million construction financing, continued to be effective despite the financing reportedly being fully repaid by 2021. Riverstone Karma SA stated it never directly signed the contract but was bound by its terms after the acquisition. The company argued the contract was unbalanced, limiting its investment and development capabilities, and negatively impacted Burkina Faso's public finances by reducing the tax base and potential dividends for the state. The transit of financial operations through companies in tax-advantaged jurisdictions, such as Barbados, also raised concerns about compliance with regulations in Burkina Faso and the UEMOA space. The Ouagadougou Commercial Court's decision to annul the contract is seen as a significant precedent for the West African mining sector, affirming national courts' ability to rule on contracts involving international companies when national economic interests are at
The Koko Dunda fabric, once associated with poverty and low status in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, has undergone a significant transformation, becoming a symbol of national pride and a driver of economic and cultural development. A study by Father Basile Paré at the Catholic University of West Africa in Bobo-Dioulasso highlights this metamorphosis, detailing how the fabric, traditionally produced in the Tounouma district, has revitalized artisanal trades, created economic opportunities, and strengthened Burkinabè cultural identity. Historically, the Koko Dunda was inexpensive and worn by the most modest households, earning it the Dioula nickname "Tié ti barala," meaning "my husband does not work." However, less than a decade later, it is now worn by ministers, artists, entrepreneurs, and students, featured in official ceremonies, weddings, and national celebrations. Its resurgence began around 2016, largely attributed to Burkinabè stylist Sébastien Bazémo, whose contemporary designs elevated the fabric's image. In 2021, the Burkinabè state officially labeled Koko Dunda as national heritage, further boosting its recognition. Father Paré's qualitative study involved interviews with sixteen stakeholders in the Koko Dunda sector, including dyers, tailors, and vendors in Tounouma. The research revealed that artisans have become more creative, innovating with colors and patterns to meet diverse customer demands. The focus on quality has intensified, with over two hundred registere