🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Joseph Ki-Zerbo University launches Centre of Excellence for Habitat to address sustainable urbanization challenges
via Lefaso.net8 min read
On Monday, April 27, 2026, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University in Ouagadougou officially launched the Centre of Excellence for Habitat CEH with an international seminar at the Higher Institute of Population Sciences ISSP. This three-day event, running until April 29, aims to establish a framework for sustainable habitat governance in the sub-regional area. The opening ceremony was led by university president Professor Antoine Béré, who also officially installed Dr. Moussa Bougma as the first director of the CEH. The seminar's theme, "Anchoring the Centre of Excellence for Habitat in a sustainable institutional, partnership, and territorial dynamic," underscores its role as a strategic tool for research, expertise, and action in response to increasing urbanization challenges. The CEH was officially created by decree on May 30, 2025, by the government of Burkina Faso, with technical and institutional support from the UEMOA Commission and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-Habitat. Professor Béré emphasized that the CEH is crucial for addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges, stating that habitat is more than just construction. Yombi Ouédraogo, representing the director of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa, affirmed UN-Habitat's long-term commitment to the center, highlighting its origin in a 2020 initiative for affordable housing, supported by the World Bank and the UEMOA Commission. Dr. Bougma outlined the CEH's plans to develop a training catalo
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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
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