ESA Foreign Ministers Engage Citizen Watchdogs to Combat Disinformation

Ouagadougou, February 28, 2026 - The foreign ministers of the ESA Confederation participated on Friday, February 27, 2026, in a confederal forum of citizen watchdog organizations from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, organized by the National Coordination of Citizen Watchdog Associations (CNAVC). Theme and Objectives The forum, held under the theme “The Strategic Role of Citizen Watchdogs in Defending the Sovereignty of the ESA Region in the Face of Disinformation and the War on Information”, aimed to: Empower citizens to counter fake news and disinformation Protect the image and sovereignty of the AES leadership Harmonize responsible civic engagement across member states According to Labidi Naba, general rapporteur of the forum, the event addresses the need to restructure, frame, and harmonize civic participation to support political action and defend the Confederation from external influence. Participation and Key Messages The meeting was chaired by H.E. Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, and attended by H.E. Bakary Yaou Sangare of Niger and H.E. Abdoulaye Diop of Mali. The ministers emphasized: Citizen mobilization as a key political asset to support ongoing AES actions and thwart destabilization efforts (Bakary Yaou Sangare) The importance of information and communication technologies to promote cultural values and support governments (Abdoulaye Diop) The need for a change in mindset and unity among citizens to highlight AES successes and counter disinformation (Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré) Outcome and Next Steps The forum concludes on Saturday, February 28, at the Thomas Sankara Memorial, with the drafting of: The Citizen Vigilance Charter A roadmap to guide future actions The initiative reflects a growing focus on active citizen vigilance as a tool to protect sovereignty, strengthen regional unity, and counter information warfare across the ESA Confederation.