🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Dédougou canton chief supports girls' education, stating educated girls contribute more to their families
via Lefaso.net2 min read
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, a delegation of students met with the canton chief of Dédougou to advocate for girls' education, coinciding with the launch of a communication campaign for girls' schooling in the Boucle du Mouhoun and Centre-Nord regions. Fatima Bambara, a student in her first year of high school, and her classmates presented concerning statistics: over four out of ten girls in the country do not complete primary school, and in some areas, one in two girls is married before 18. Out of 100 girls entering primary school, only 34 reach the ninth grade, and barely 15 make it to the final year of high school. The students, accompanied by teams from the Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa SWEED+ project and officials from the Union of Religious and Customary Leaders of Burkina for Health Promotion and Development URCB/SD, called for increased awareness campaigns, encouragement for families to send their daughters to school, and support to keep them enrolled until completion. They pledged to respect teachers, supervisors, and parents, and to contribute to the collective effort. The canton chief of Dédougou found their plea courageous and meaningful, expressing his commitment to mobilizing his community for this cause. He believes that "a successful girl brings more to her nuclear family than a man." Moussa Bambara, executive director of URCB/SD, highlighted the crucial role of traditional and religious authorities in promoting behavioral c
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Ciné Burkina, in collaboration with Kanazoé services, screened the feature film "TA Kami les braises" by director Kollo Daniel Sanou on April 18, 2026. The film, released in 2023, depicts social realities including inheritance conflicts, challenges faced by families of combatants widows and orphans, and administrative injustices. The plot follows Kièdalo, the second wife of the deceased Sogo Sanon, a former soldier who fought for the French army in Indochina and Algeria. Kièdalo attempts to claim her reversionary pension but faces opposition from Dafra, Sogo Sanon's first and legitimate wife. Despite their rivalry, Kièdalo receives unexpected help from her stepson, Dossila Sanon, who returns from Europe. Together, they confront administrative hurdles. After three years, the family still had not received the pension. Dossila seeks help from his older brother in Abidjan, previously unknown to the family, who helps them secure approval from the French consulate. However, this victory is incomplete as administrative delays mean the family must wait another six months for the pension, leading to Dafra's death due to lack of funds for medical care. Attendees, including students from the Kadiogo Military Prytaneum and cultural figures, praised the film. Aguarim Gnamine, a student representative, called it an "educational film that raises awareness." Zalissa Kanazoé, head of Ciné Burkina, stated the screening aimed to educate and sensitize students about the sacrifices of military li
Burkinabe singer Miss Tanya captivated the audience at the 14th edition of the Market for African Arts and Spectacle of Abidjan MASA on Friday, April 17, 2026. Her fans, known as the "hopaa," turned out in large numbers, some wearing traditional attire and others waving the flag of Burkina Faso. Miss Tanya performed a range of her hit songs, including "Pananki" and "Ma bague d’abord," showcasing styles from hip-hop to zouk and warba, leading to an enthusiastic response from hundreds of spectators. An Ivorian spectator noted that inviting Miss Tanya to Côte d'Ivoire was like bringing Ouagadougou to Abidjan. This marked Miss Tanya's first participation in MASA, further solidifying her connection with the Ivorian public, who were previously impressed by her performance at the Miss Côte d'Ivoire election in 2024. Beyond her artistic performance, Miss Tanya also conveyed a message of peace and unity between Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. She expressed her appreciation for the cultural diversity, alchemy, and shared energies during the event in an interview with Lefaso.net. MASA, established in 1990, serves as a significant platform for promoting African performing arts, supporting creation, facilitating the circulation of works, and assisting cultural actors both on the continent and internationally.
The Permanent Secretariat of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative EITI and the Association of Mining Students of Burkina Faso AEM-BF organized a debate in Ouagadougou on April 18, 2026, focusing on "Transparency and mining governance: lessons from the 2024 EITI report." The event brought together students from various public and private universities, including Aube Nouvelle University, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Thomas Sankara University, and Ouagadougou Private University. Didier Tapsoba, president of AEM-BF, emphasized that transparency and governance of natural resources are a shared responsibility, not solely for decision-makers or companies, especially for the youth who represent the country's future. He stated that as future engineers, researchers, and actors in the mining sector, understanding these issues now prepares them to act responsibly and with commitment. Tapsoba urged participants to ask questions to fully grasp the essence of the 2024 EITI report, which is Burkina Faso's sixteenth such report. Eric Zouré, Permanent Secretary of the EITI, commended AEM-BF's initiative as "patriotic," highlighting the strategic importance of the sector for Burkina Faso. He praised the students' willingness to create a space for citizen dialogue, demonstrating their maturity and sense of responsibility. Zouré noted that an engineer, economist, or financier who understands accountability issues will contribute to strengthening Burkina Faso's mining sector. Zouré als
The Sablux Group is expanding its real estate footprint in Burkina Faso with the KASMA project and the announcement of a new development comprising over 1,300 homes. The KASMA project, spanning approximately 6,000 m², is a mixed-use development featuring residential buildings of 10 and 12 stories, alongside a 15-story office tower. Four months after construction began on the first 10-story building with 40 apartments, the foundation stone was laid for residential building A, which will have 39 apartments, and a 15-story professional-use building. A partnership agreement was signed with Coris Bank International to facilitate access to housing and make Sablux's offerings more accessible to buyers. Additionally, Sablux Group introduced a second major real estate project to build over 1,300 homes on a 5-hectare site. This program will be implemented in eight phases, with the first phase estimated to take between 36 and 46 months. Léopold Manga, Sablux's Director General, stated that these initiatives aim to actively transform the real estate landscape and support urban growth. Mikaïlou Sidibé, the Minister of Construction of the Homeland, noted that these projects align with the authorities' vision for vertical construction, urban densification, and building elevation. Gisèle Gumedzoe Ouédraogo, Director General of CBI, congratulated Sablux Burkina and emphasized CBI's commitment to supporting such initiatives beyond just financing. Sablux Burkina Faso, established in Ouagadougou