
SITARAIL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, launched a special "culture train" on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from Ouagadougou railway station. This initiative aims to provide free transportation for cultural actors and festival-goers to Bobo-Dioulasso, the host city for the 22nd edition of the National Culture Week SNC, which opens on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Nearly 400 participants benefited from this free transport to the economic capital to attend the biennial event. Joachim Ouédraogo, Deputy General Manager of AGL Burkina, stated that this initiative supports government actions and highlighted the group's commitment to national and international events like the SNC. He expressed joy at the enthusiasm surrounding the operation, which enabled 400 people to travel for free and fully participate in the SNC. Marguerite Douanio/Sou, representing the Minister of Culture, praised the gesture as highly patriotic. She conveyed the minister's message, describing the "culture train" as more than just transport; it symbolizes cultural diversity, carrying stories, knowledge, talents, and dreams. She thanked SITARAIL for its exemplary social responsibility, aligning with the vision of the country's highest authorities. Beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction. Rakieta Compaoré, a first-time train traveler, commended the organization from registration to boarding and thanked SITARAIL, wishing for a peaceful journey. Sanata Kaboré, also on her first train trip, shared her j
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The Central Bank of West African States BCEAO concluded a two-day seminar for economic journalists from the West African Monetary Union UMOA in Dakar on August 21, 2026. The seminar focused on major economic, monetary, and financial issues within the community, with the BCEAO reaffirming its commitment to strengthening ties with media professionals to foster a better understanding of policies and reforms. Habib Thiam, Secretary General of the BCEAO, praised the participation and relevance of discussions, noting the seminar deepened understanding of the BCEAO's missions, instruments, and strategic priorities amid a changing global economic landscape. Topics included monetary policy, financial stability, economic financing, financial inclusion, digital financial services, and payment system changes. Thiam emphasized the media's crucial role in providing reliable, rigorous, and contextualized information, making complex economic issues accessible to the public and preventing misinformation. Dominique Mabika, a journalist from Financial Afrik in Senegal, thanked the BCEAO for the initiative, highlighting how it enhanced journalists' knowledge of technical subjects and allowed direct engagement with policymakers. She stressed the responsibility of participants to act as relays for citizens, explaining mechanisms like the PI-SPI platform and BCEAO actions. The BCEAO aims for this seminar to be the start of a more regular dialogue with economic journalists, recognizing the increasin
Must ReadThe BCEAO's 2025 annual report details a year of robust economic activity, controlled inflation, strengthened financial stability, and accelerated modernization of payment infrastructures within the West African Economic and Monetary Union UEMOA. In 2025, global growth reached 3.4%, matching 2024, while inflation decreased to 4.1% from 5.8% the previous year. UEMOA economies demonstrated notable adaptability, with a 6.7% increase in GDP in 2025, following 6.2% growth in 2024. This performance was driven by the services sector, dynamic extractive industries, and a successful agricultural campaign. A significant achievement in 2025 was the control of inflationary pressures, with the annual inflation rate in UEMOA falling to zero, down from 3.5% in 2024. This was attributed to lower international prices for imported food and energy products, and an improved local food supply. The Monetary Policy Committee of the BCEAO eased financing conditions on June 4, 2025, reducing the main policy rate from 3.50% to 3.25% and the marginal lending facility rate from 5.50% to 5.25%. This accommodative monetary policy supported economic financing, with bank credit to the private sector growing by 5.6% and credit to states increasing by 7.8%. The report also highlighted the resilience of the Union's financial system, with the banking sector maintaining solvency levels above regulatory requirements and the microfinance sector showing dynamism. A major institutional advancement was the designatio
Must ReadPrime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo officially inaugurated the 50-megawatt emergency thermal power plant in Pabré on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. This infrastructure, built in 90 days against a contractual period of 120 days and costing 18 billion FCFA, will enhance the production capacity of Burkina Faso's National Electricity Company SONABEL and improve the national energy supply. The Prime Minister praised the commissioning of the Pabré plant as the first step in a broad program under the Popular Progressive Revolution, aimed at ensuring Burkina Faso's strategic autonomy and energy sovereignty.