
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Russian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Igor Martynov, met with media representatives in Ouaga 2000 to discuss bilateral cooperation between Russia and Burkina Faso, as well as multilateral Russia-Africa cooperation. The ambassador highlighted the ongoing implementation of agreements made between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré in 2023 in Saint Petersburg and in 2025 in Moscow. He noted that after three decades of dormancy, the revitalization of cooperation involves establishing legal and institutional frameworks. Recent bilateral documents signed in February 2026 include an agreement on the foundations of relations, an agreement to create a Russian-Burkinabe intergovernmental commission for trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation, and memorandums on cooperation in science, scientific and technical activities, innovation, and higher education. The first meeting of the intergovernmental commission is expected this year to approve projects and areas of interaction. Ambassador Martynov also mentioned significant events in 2025, such as President Traoré's visit to Moscow, a Russian delegation's visit to Ouagadougou led by Russian Minister of Energy S.E. Tsivilev, and a Russian humanitarian food aid delivery of 709.5 tons of yellow peas worth 2.5 million US dollars to Burkina Faso. Military-technical cooperation is ongoing, with Burkinabe partners interested in expanding this area. In the energy secto
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Must ReadArgentina secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup 2026 semi-final on Wednesday, July 15, qualifying for the final. Despite being behind until the final minutes, Argentina staged a spectacular comeback with goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. The first half saw intense play with numerous fouls, and England initially pressed hard. A key opportunity for England came at the 33rd minute when John Stones' header from a Declan Rice free-kick was saved. Enzo Fernández also attempted a long-range shot at the 39th minute, which went just over the bar, ending the first half scoreless. In the second half, both teams showed more attacking intent. Julián Álvarez nearly scored for Argentina at the 47th minute, but Jordan Pickford made a save. England took the lead at the 55th minute with a goal from Anthony Gordon, assisted by Morgan Rogers. Argentina, the reigning world champions, struggled to equalize against a strong English defense, with attempts from Nicolas Gonzalez at the 69th minute and Mac Allister at the 76th minute being thwarted. However, Argentina turned the game around in the closing minutes. At the 85th minute, Enzo Fernández scored the equalizer with a long-range strike, assisted by Lionel Messi. In added time, Lionel Messi again proved decisive, setting up Lautaro Martínez for the winning goal. This victory sends Argentina to their second consecutive World Cup final, and Lionel Messi will play in his third World Cup final after 2014 and 2022

Orabank Burkina and Wave Burkina have introduced new Bank-to-Wallet and Wallet-to-Bank services, enabling instant and secure transfers between Orabank accounts and Wave mobile wallets. These services are available 24/7, allowing users to move funds directly from their mobile phones without needing to visit an agency. This partnership aims to bridge traditional banking with mobile money ecosystems, offering an opportunity for the unbanked population to access formal financial services and for existing bank clients to manage daily operations more easily. The interconnection provides the mobility and speed of mobile money while offering banking sector benefits such as secure savings, improved transaction traceability, and access to a wider range of financial products. Both partners confirm the solution complies with Central Bank of West African States BCEAO requirements, ensuring secure transactions, personal data protection, and a reliable user experience. Joël Ky, Country Director of Wave Burkina, stated this partnership demonstrates their commitment to bringing banking closer to the Burkinabè population and accelerating financial inclusion. Pathé Mbengue, General Manager of Orabank, emphasized the shared ambition to simplify clients' daily lives and bring financial services closer to the people. Orabank Burkina Faso is part of the pan-African Orabank group, operating in 12 West and Central African countries, with 30 agencies in Burkina Faso. Wave Mobile Money, operating in Bu

Burkina Faso's Legislative Assembly of the People ALP, in collaboration with the Permanent Secretariat for Innovation and Monitoring of Emerging Digital Technologies SPIVTEN, organized an artificial intelligence AI training session for parliamentarians in Ouagadougou on July 15, 2026. The session, presided over by ALP second vice-president Haoua Fofana, aimed to equip parliamentarians with a better understanding of AI's challenges, opportunities, and risks. Saïdou Yanogo, technical advisor to the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications, emphasized the government's goal to leverage AI for national development. He highlighted previous initiatives, including a 2025 AI conference and the development of guidelines for ethical, inclusive, and responsible AI in Francophone Africa, adopted following a regional process led by Burkina Faso. Yanogo also mentioned existing data protection laws, the development of sovereign AI models in local languages, and research efforts in health, agriculture, and governance. He stressed that parliamentary involvement is crucial for the successful implementation of AI policies, as parliamentarians are responsible for examining and adopting future legislation to regulate AI use in Burkina Faso. Haoua Fofana underscored the necessity for legislators to understand AI to develop informed public policies, protect citizens' rights, stimulate innovation, and ensure AI serves humanity. She advocated for an evolution in the legisla