The President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, chaired the weekly Council of Ministers meeting, which examined and adopted several dossiers and made important decisions for the country's progress. The Council adopted three decrees under the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Quarries. The first decree sets conditions and modalities for reorganizing illegal mining sites, sites involved in conflicts, and strategic sites. The decree aims to establish a peaceful climate for artisanal gold exploitation.
The Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, stated that the decree will help reorganize artisanal mining sites and ensure that actors in the sector comply with the law. According to the mining code, anyone employing children on mining sites will face the full rigor of the law. The government aims to better regulate the sector and prevent child labor. This move is part of a broader effort to improve the country's mining industry.
The second decree creates a state-owned company, Faso SANU, which will be responsible for reorganizing the artisanal mining sector and providing technical support. Faso SANU will be owned 50% by the National Precious Substances Company (SONASP) and 50% by the Public Treasury. The company will help the government achieve its goals in the mining sector and ensure better regulation of artisanal mining.
The Council also adopted a decree modifying the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health. The changes aim to align the ministry's structure with the new territorial division and the establishment of communal medical centers. The restructuring includes the creation of a Deputy Secretary-General to supervise hospital structures and state-owned companies.
The Ministry of Health's restructuring involves several innovations, including the creation of specialized structures such as the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council to Fight Against AIDS, ISTs, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis. The government also established the Faso Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Faso CDC) and the Burkinabé Agency for Traditional Medicine.
The Council adopted a draft law to reform the sports sector, which aims to address the shortcomings of the 2019 law on sports and leisure. The Minister of Sports, Annick Lydie Djouma Pikbougou/Zingué Ouattara, stated that the reform aims to define a clear vision and concerted action plan to transform the sports sector into a socio-economic development driver.
The sports sector reform includes several key innovations, such as social and salary protection for athletes, government authorization for international participation, and inclusive sports for people with disabilities. The reform also strengthens rules related to athlete health and anti-doping efforts.
Key points
- The Burkinabé government has established Faso SANU, a state-owned company, to oversee the artisanal mining sector and regulate the industry.
- The government has adopted a decree to reorganize the Ministry of Health's structure, aligning it with the new territorial division and communal medical centers.
- A draft law has been adopted to reform the sports sector, aiming to transform it into a socio-economic development driver.
