Ouagadougou: The 18th edition of the Ouagadougou International Book Fair (FILO) was officially launched this Tuesday by the Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, under the theme 'Books, cultural identities and national sovereignty'. Representing the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the Head of Government indicated that this edition, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the biennial, constitutes a moment of national pride and collective hope. He emphasized the importance of the theme, highlighting its significance in the effort to build a sovereign, dignified Burkina Faso, rooted in its values and open to the world. He asserted that true sovereignty cannot be achieved without intellectual and cultural sovereignty.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Prime Minister expressed the necessity of resisting obscurantism and defending culture and values, emphasizing that the battle for survival extends beyond the military field and into the realm of minds and consciences. He declared his belief in the capacity of the book as a 'peaceful and powerful weapon'. Meanwhile, the Minister in charge of Culture, Gilbert Ouedraogo, highlighted the symbolic significance of holding this edition at the National Library, an institution that embodies the ambition to provide the country with modern infrastructure dedicated to memory and knowledge.

Ouedraogo outlined the innovations of FILO 2025, which include strengthening and diversifying distinctions, integrating national languages in workshops and activities, and creating the FILO Grand Prize for Integration of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Additionally, an international symposium is set to be organized. The minister expressed his hope that this 18th edition, marking a quarter of a century of commitment, would serve as a moment of unity, enlightenment, and renewal, inspiring young people to read, write, dream, and build.