Banfora: The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility, through the Permanent Secretariat of the National Border Commission, organized a pivotal exchange meeting on July 24 and 25, 2025, in Banfora. This meeting focused on cross-border natural resource management and brought together stakeholders from the Tannounyan region in Burkina Faso and the Sikasso region in Mali. This initiative aimed to enhance land governance and promote peaceful coexistence between communities residing along the borders of the two nations.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting aimed to create a permanent consultation framework among border administrative authorities. The goal is to better anticipate and resolve conflicts related to the access and exploitation of natural resources. Discussions centered around establishing a cross-border system for sharing security information, governing natural resources, and defining mechanisms to foster peace and social cohesion.
The Governor of the Tannounyan region, Bad
abouè Florent Bazié, emphasized the strategic importance of the session. “We are meeting with our counterparts in Mali to harmonize our interventions on the ground, so that our populations can live in harmony and properly manage natural resources in these border areas,” he stated. Governor Bazié also expressed gratitude towards the Malian delegation, recognizing the spirit of cooperation now characterizing relations between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The head of the Malian delegation, Major General Controller of Police Tiantio Diarra, advisor to the governor of Sikasso, lauded the efforts of Burkina Faso in initiating the session. He noted the importance of considering social, economic, and human dimensions in managing cross-border natural resources.
Fidèle Gouèm, the Permanent Secretary of the National Border Commission of Burkina Faso, highlighted the political will of both states to unify their peoples. He stressed the necessity of working together f
or integrated and concerted resource management to ensure sustainable coexistence.
Supported by several partners, including the NGO CARE, MOPSS, and the Association for the Promotion of Livestock Farming in the Savannah and the Sahel (APESS), the meeting marked a significant step toward building a peaceful, supportive, and resilient border area, aligning with the ambitions of the AES.