Burkina Faso undertakes to take part in a crucial meeting of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) in Chad

Burkina Faso has formally declared its active participation in a pivotal gathering of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), slated for March 2024 in Chad, as disclosed by authoritative sources in Ouagadougou.

At the recent Council of Ministers session, Karamoko Traoré, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Burkina Faso, underscored the country’s commitment to the forthcoming meeting.

Scheduled for March 4 and 5, 2024, in N’Djamena, Chad, this assembly will bring together ambassadors, permanent representatives, and focal points of CEN-SAD.

As outlined in the Council of Ministers’ records, this assembly provides a platform for member states to deliberate and propose priority projects or activities for the 2024-2025 period.

Additionally, it encompasses a thorough review of CEN-SAD’s overarching budget.

The discussions will extend to pending agreements, considerations for establishing a coordination or platform for CEN-SAD youth, and in-depth dialogues addressing security and developmental imperatives within the region.

Established in 1998 in Tripoli, CEN-SAD strives to foster a comprehensive and integrated economy, facilitating the unhindered movement of people, goods, and capital in harmony with the interests of the diverse populations involved.

With a membership of 23 nations, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, CEN-SAD’s regional goals have faced challenges since the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, orchestrated by a Western coalition led by France.

Yann ETERNEL