On November 5, 2026, Burkina Faso's President, 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 concerns the conditions and modalities for reorganizing illegal mining sites, sites involved in conflicts, and strategic sites. This move aims to establish a better-organized and peaceful environment for artisanal gold mining.
The second decree creates a state-owned company called Faso SANU, which will enable the state to better reorganize the sub-sector and have a technical arm to implement the first decree. Faso SANU will be owned 50% by the National Precious Substances Company (SONASP) and 50% by the Public Treasury. The third decree adopts the statutes of Faso SANU. According to Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, the adoption of these decrees aims to improve the mining sector and ensure that those who employ children on mining sites face the full force of the law.
The Council also adopted a decree under the Ministry of Health, modifying the department's organizational chart. This change aligns with the new territorial division and the establishment of Communal Medical Centers (CMC). The goal is to effectively implement the President's vision for public health. The restructuring involves creating a Deputy Secretary General to supervise hospital structures and state-owned companies, as well as specialized bodies such as the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council to Fight AIDS, STIs, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis.
Additionally, the decree establishes the Faso Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Faso CDC) and the Burkinabé Traditional Medicine Agency, promoting the country's medical heritage. The reform also involves creating provincial health departments and hospital centers, while dissolving the SOGEMAB (Equipment and Biomedical Maintenance Management Company) and the technical secretariat for multisectoral nutrition.
Under the Ministry of Sports, the Council adopted a draft law to reform the country's sports legislation. The new law aims to address the shortcomings of the 2019 law and define a clear vision and concerted action plan to transform the sports sector into a socio-economic development driver. Key innovations include social and salary protection for athletes, government authorization for international team participation, and strengthened rules on athlete health and anti-doping.
The draft law also promotes inclusive sports for people with disabilities and provides for decent remuneration for athletes. According to Sports Minister Annick Lydie Djouma Pikbougou/Zingue Ouattara, the goal is to make the sports sector a driver of socio-economic development. The law is expected to enhance the country's sports landscape and provide better opportunities for athletes.
The Council of Ministers' decisions reflect the government's efforts to reform key sectors, including mining, health, and sports. The implementation of these reforms is expected to have a positive impact on the country's development and improve the lives of its citizens. The government's vision, as outlined by President Traoré, aims to promote progress and prosperity for all Burkinabé.
Key points
- The Council of Ministers adopts decrees to reform the mining sector and create a state-owned company Faso SANU.
- A decree is adopted to modify the organizational chart of the Ministry of Health, aligning it with the new territorial division.
- A draft law is adopted to reform the country's sports legislation, aiming to transform the sector into a socio-economic development driver.
