Burkina Faso launches national sports revival strategy amid security challenges

Ouagadougou became the epicenter of Burkina Faso’s sports renaissance on April 10, 2025, as Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo inaugurated high-stakes national consultations aimed at transforming athletics and recreation into engines of national recovery.

The forum, attended by government officials, sports federations, and development partners, reflects President Ibrahim Traoré’s conviction that organized sports can fortify social cohesion despite ongoing security crises.

Under the theme “Sports Development in a Context of Territorial Reclamation,” the three-day summit will tackle four priority areas:

Infrastructure modernization(building resilient sports facilities nationwide)
Sports economy(creating youth employment through professional leagues and events)
Talent development(revamping training academies and scouting systems)
Grassroots access(promoting sports as tools for public health and social inclusion)

“The playing field is where we’ll rebuild our national pride,” declared Ouédraogo, framing sports as both social glue and economic catalyst. His call for multi-stakeholder governance—engaging regional authorities, civil society, and private investors—signals a departure from top-down approaches.

With over 350 delegates from all 13 regions, the conference will produce actionable policies to be monitored by the Ministry of Sports.

Analysts note the timing is strategic: as security forces regain territory from insurgents, the government seeks to counter extremist recruitment by channeling youth energy into structured athletics.