From Ouagadougou to Niamey and Dakar, citizens and authorities alike demonstrated determination in the face of adversity.
In Burkina Faso, the Burkina Information Agency (AIB) announced the launch of the Faso Films Fund in Ouagadougou — the country’s first national financing mechanism dedicated to cinema and audiovisual production.
With a budget of one billion CFA francs, the initiative aims to boost local creativity and strengthen the cultural sector.
Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, described the fund as a milestone in the nation’s cultural policy.
“It’s a historic day for Burkinabe cinema,” said Moussa Alex Sawadogo, director of ABCA, while filmmaker Michel K. Zongo welcomed the project as the realization of a long-awaited dream.
In Mali, the president of the National Transitional Council, General Malick Diaw, denounced what he called an “economic war” waged against the country by terrorist groups.
Speaking to the press, he linked recent fuel shortages to attacks on supply convoys and accused foreign powers—among them France, Ukraine, and Algeria—of contributing to instability in the Sahel.
Despite these hardships, he praised Malians for their resilience and vowed that “economic terrorism will be defeated.”
In Niger, the Niger Press Agency (ANP) reported the opening of the second edition of the Citizens’ Week Forum in Niamey, organized by the Association of Young Leaders for the Positive Transformation of Conflicts.
Under the theme “Commitment and Responsibilities of Youth in the Face of Security, Environmental, Digital and Employability Challenges,” the event seeks to mobilize youth around sustainable development goals.
Youth Minister Sidi Mohamed Al-Mahmoud highlighted the “strategic role of youth,” while UN representative Mama Keita praised the “creativity and resilience of Nigerien youth.”
In Guinea, according to Africaguinee, the authorities launched a major labor inspection campaign targeting banks, insurance companies, telecommunications firms, and public institutions.
Auditor General Dr. Joseph Togna Doré said the initiative aims to ensure compliance with the Labor Code, improve worker protection, and promote transparency in strategic sectors.
On the Ivorian coast, Abidjan.net reported that authorities in Côte d’Ivoire raised the weather alert to orange following forecasts of heavy overnight rain.
Residents of Abidjan, particularly in Yopougon, Cocody, Marcory, and Port-Bouët, were urged to stay vigilant as emergency services mobilized to prevent flooding.
In Senegal, Seneweb revealed the arrest of a major synthetic drug trafficker, identified as A.L. Diop, in Dakar’s Sacré-Cœur district. Regional narcotics officers seized 300 grams of MDMA, packaging materials, and 30 rounds of 9mm ammunition, dismantling what investigators described as an international trafficking network linking the United States to Senegal.
And in Benin, Banouto highlighted a remarkable act of determination: athlete Sylvain Bossouvi, known as “the walker of hope,” announced plans to trek over 6,000 kilometers from Cotonou to Rabat to support Benin’s national football team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
His journey, he said, aims to deliver a message of courage, unity, and belief in the potential of African youth.
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