Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES): Minister Pindgwendé Gilbert Ouedraogo Present at the Signing of the

Ouagadougou, November 26, 2025 - The Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Pindgwendé Gilbert Ouedraogo, took part in a major step toward strengthening communication within the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, he attended the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes the Confederation’s first joint radio broadcasting platform.

The MoU was signed by the Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the three member states of the AES, marking a significant advance in the Confederation’s strategy to unify its information ecosystem, counter hostile media narratives, and enhance sovereign communication capacity.

The new station, named “Daandè Liptako”-Fulfulde for “The Voice of Liptako”-symbolizes the shared heritage, identity, and geopolitical importance of the Liptako-Gourma region, a territory historically linked to the three nations.

According to officials, the creation of Daandè Liptako is a direct response to the growing challenges posed by disinformation campaigns, perception warfare, and external attempts to influence public opinion in the Sahel. The station will function as a central pillar of the Confederation’s communication architecture, ensuring:

the production and dissemination of verified, credible, and timely information,

the countering of false narratives,

and the promotion of the Confederation’s vision, reforms, and achievements.

The memorandum outlines several core missions assigned to the radio station:

Strengthen communication mechanisms within the Confederation of Sahel States (CSA) in the face of security, political, and informational threats;

Raise awareness among populations and encourage positive behavioral change, particularly in matters of unity, security cooperation, and civic responsibility;

Serve as a centralized communication hub for the three member countries, enabling harmonized public messaging;

Promote dialogue, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding across the confederation territory.

The station’s headquarters will be based in Ouagadougou, reflecting Burkina Faso’s central role in the AES communication initiatives. To ensure broad coverage across the Sahel:

a relay antenna will be installed in Bamako,

another in Niamey,

allowing the station to broadcast continuously throughout the Confederation area and reach remote communities.

Programming is expected to include news bulletins, educational content, cultural programming, public service announcements, and special features promoting the values and goals of the AES.

Launch Expected at the Next Heads of State Summit

The radio station will be officially launched during the upcoming AES Heads of State Summit, scheduled for December 22-23, 2025, in Bamako, Mali. The launch will be one of the flagship achievements presented at the summit, alongside other initiatives aimed at strengthening the Confederation’s institutional framework and sovereign communication tools.

By attending this ceremony, Minister Pindgwendé Gilbert Ouedraogo reaffirmed Burkina Faso’s commitment to building a strong, coordinated, and resilient Sahel communication space, capable of defending the interests and image of its peoples on the regional and international scenes.