POLITICS
BURKINA FASO – Authorities have officially requested the departure of French troops, Paris expects «clarifications»
A letter from the new Burkinabe government, which came to power in September thanks to a coup, asks France to withdraw within a month
Burkina Faso has requested the departure of French troops from its soil within a month, confirms an official document sent on Sunday to AFP, while French President Emmanuel Macron said he was waiting for «clarifications» of Ouagadougou in this new episode of tensions between the two countries. In a letter from the Burkinabe Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to Paris and dated Wednesday, Ouagadougou «denounces and terminates in its entirety the agreement» of 17 December 2018 «relating to the status of the French armed forces intervening» in the Sahelian country. Burkina Faso currently hosts a contingent of nearly 400 French special forces, the Sabre force.
France expects «clarifications»
“In view of the one-month notice period imposed by the agreement in the case of denunciation, the Burkina Faso Ministry of Foreign Affairs would appreciate that special care be given to this matter upon receipt,” the document states. The Burkinabe diplomatic source was unable to confirm on Sunday whether Paris had acknowledged receipt of this letter. When asked, the French Presidency said it was waiting for confirmation of Burkina Faso’s position at the «highest level». On Sunday afternoon, President Emmanuel Macron said he was waiting for «clarifications» from Burkina Faso on a possible request for the departure of French troops stationed in the country within a month. Evoking a «great confusion» he explained at a press conference in Paris wanting to wait for Burkina Faso’s transition president Ibrahim Traoré «to express himself», calling to «keep a lot of caution» on the subject. A source close to the Burkinabe government told AFP on Saturday that Ouagadougou asked for «the departure of the French soldiers in a short time», confirming information from the Burkinabe News Agency (AIB).
Demonstrations in Ouagadougou
France, a former colonial power, has been contested in Burkina Faso for several months. In December, the Burkinabe authorities had asked Paris to replace the French ambassador in Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade, in their sights for having reported on the deterioration of the security situation in the country. Several demonstrations, last Friday, also took place in Ouagadougou to demand the withdrawal of French forces from the country. On January 10, Paris sent Secretary of State Chrysoula Zacharopoulou to meet with the transitional president. «France imposes nothing, it is available to invent a future together», she insisted, saying she does not want to «influence any choice, no decision, no one can dictate his choices to Burkina». Since coming to power in September with a coup, the second in eight months, Captain Traoré and his government have shown their willingness to diversify their partnerships, particularly in the fight against the jihadism that has been undermining this country since 2015.
A possible rapprochement with Russia
Among the new partners envisaged by Ouagadougou, the question of a possible rapprochement with Russia is regularly raised.
«Russia is a choice of reason in this dynamic», and «we think that our partnership must be strengthened», stressed Burkinabe Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyélem de Tembela last week after an interview with Russian Ambassador Alexey Saltykov. At the beginning of December, he made a discreet visit to Moscow. This request for the departure of the French forces recalls the precedent of neighbouring Mali: last summer, the junta in power in Bamako had asked the French forces to leave the country after nine years of presence. Multiple sources report that the Malian authorities began bringing in the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, whose actions are criticized in different countries, which the junta denies. Burkina Faso, especially in its northern half, has been faced since 2015 with mounting attacks by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. They have killed thousands and displaced at least two million people.
On Thursday, about 30 people died in a series of attacks affecting several communities in the north and northwest of the country. Captain Ibrahim Traoré has set himself the goal «of regaining the territory occupied by these hordes of terrorists».
Sur ce : Le Temps
POLITICS
SENEGAL Moussa Tine: “We launch a solemn appeal to the diaspora for the International Exhibition of Investment of the African Diaspora – SIDIA
Exclusive interview with Moussa Tine, the Director General of Urbanism and Habit. From September 26 to 28, 2025, at the Domaine de Choully, Africa – and particularly Senegal goes to meet its diaspora. For three days, the event will bring together several hundred entrepreneurs, including 30 from Senegal, investors, policy makers and artists. It is an unprecedented exhibition that brings together strategic sectors such as housing, agriculture, but also industry and commerce.
Why involve the diaspora and why organize this International Diaspora Investment Fair? Why this fair?
This exhibition today is a moment of exchange, an indispensable meeting point for government policy and particularly the policy of these three sectors, namely housing, construction, agriculture, industry and commerce. It is these three ministries that bring together their strategies, their strengths, to go out to meet the diaspora. The diaspora plays a decisive, extremely important role in the country’s economy and in its socio-economic stability. It is an important moment, a decisive moment, a moment that will also help us to financially complete a number of projects that are underway, but also to give the opportunity to the nationals of the diaspora to contribute to the development of their country. Each ministry today develops projects and this fair is an opportunity to give the diaspora the necessary information, either to integrate these projects or to collaborate with the State in the context of public-private partnerships or direct investments under the auspices of the State. Here is, in a global manner, the object of the exhibition. Today, this the exhibition is a decisive moment, an important one, with challenges defined across the three sectors I have just mentioned.
Thus, what is the economic weight of the diaspora?
The weight of the diaspora is well established. Today, it plays a decisive role in our economy. The diaspora is strong and economically involved, not only in a family way, but also through local and international initiatives. Therefore, involving the diaspora means redefining its role in a strategic way, which must no longer be limited to family support but contribute directly to the development of the country. This can be done through financial investment projects through programmes structured by the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Spatial Planning. I take the example of the PNALRU (National Program for Access to Housing), a project designed and led by the Ministry of Urbanism. We know that most of our fellow citizens in the diaspora have a house or housing project because they want to invest in their home. But often, they do not have the necessary information to do it in a secure way, nor quality support. Projects like the PNALRU offer a secure framework at the level of land, construction, but also marketing, in a transparent manner. These are projects that the State has implemented and which allow the diaspora to have easier access to land, and to participate directly in the national economy. The diaspora complains about not having enough information on state initiatives. This exhibition is a way to reach out to her, to provide as much information as possible about ongoing projects and integration modalities. We know that a part of the diaspora already has the initiative to return or to work in collaboration with the State. This show will therefore be a B2B meeting, a space where the diaspora and the State will be able to meet, establish collaborative relationships, and create what I often call a “return ticket”, that is to say an opportunity for many Senegalese to prepare for a secure and planned return.
Mr. Director, what is the direct message you send to the diaspora, especially to that of Geneva, because the exhibition will take place there?
Yes, the exhibition will be held in Geneva. This choice does not come by chance. Geneva is a financial capital and a business hub. Organizing it there highlights a decisive point in the outcome of projects: the financial dimension and the technical dimension. The objective is that from this exhibition, not only do we provide the necessary information to the diaspora, but also that we mobilize its capital to encourage it to invest in real estate, agriculture and industry. Each ministry will present development projects that the diaspora can appropriate, whether in housing, agriculture or industry. These sectors are linked: industry supports habitat, habitat needs building materials, and agriculture requires infrastructure. This sectoral transversality will allow for maximum opportunities to be created for the diaspora. In Geneva, for three days, we will have exchanges, panels, permanent exhibitions (more than 30 planned), and B2B meetings between the state, professionals, the diaspora, and the private sector. The aim is to mobilize investors, experts and promoters to implement joint projects.
Who are the partners of this project?
In Senegal, we have the Ministry of Urbanism, Territorial Collectivities and Spatial Planning, which leads, with the Ministries of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture as co-organizers. We also work in partnership with Me Events, a structure specialized in the organization of events, and with partners in Geneva, such as the African Village Association and Afrique Néon.
Mr. Director, to conclude, what message do you want to send to the Senegalese in the diaspora?
I take this opportunity to make a solemn appeal to all our fellow citizens of the diaspora. This exhibition is made for you. Its objective is clear: to mobilize the diaspora, not only for its expertise, but also for its investments. Invest in yourself. Invest in Senegal. Invest in Africa. This fair is yours, make it your own, and make it a channel for communication and development. The success of this exhibition will be the success of the national policy towards the diaspora. Senegal comes to you, your country comes to you, in order to discuss your projects and those we develop here. Come in large numbers, because together we can ensure inclusive development where every contribution counts. Thank you and I hope to see you very soon at the Geneva exhibition, from September 26 to 28.
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.
This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.
The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.
The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.
Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Morissanda Kouyaté, received this Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Conakry a delegation from the African Union, on an official visit to Guinea. On this occasion, he reaffirmed the commitment of the transitional authorities to respect the deadlines set for the return to constitutional order, while stressing the historical and central role of Guinea in the construction of the Pan-African project.
« I am very happy. The African Union is at Guinea’s side to accompany and support the vision of the head of state, President Mamadi Doumbouya, in favor of Guinea and Africa, in the political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural fields, declared the head of Guinean diplomacy.
This meeting takes place in a context marked by the preparations for the constitutional referendum scheduled for next September 21.
Morissanda Kouyaté also recalled the founding involvement of Guinea in the creation of the Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union. “This visit materializes the commitment of the Peace and Security Council to accompany Guinea in a dynamic of ambitious political and diplomatic transformation,” he stressed.
The minister indicated that all actions related to the transition are currently funded by the national development budget, while calling for a broader mobilization of the international community. “We have requested a round table, called the Basketfront, to seek support to speed up the process. But this does not mean that we will give up,” he said, reiterating President Doumbouya’s willingness to scrupulously respect the scheduled deadlines.
He finally wanted to reassure on the efforts made to ensure an inclusive electoral process. “We are going through a difficult period, and that is why we want all Guineans to be registered in order to obtain a reliable electoral roll,” concluded Morissanda Kouyaté.
Source: guinee360 / Photo credit: Page Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guinea
