Banwa: Provincial stakeholders in Soum review 2025 and set priorities for 2026: Administrative authorities and key stakeholders of the Soum province met this Saturday in Djibo for the first provincial consultation framework of 2026, with a view to evaluating the actions carried out in 2025 and defining the priorities for the new year.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting was held in the Djibo town hall meeting room and brought together administrative authorities, provincial directors, heads of services, the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), NGO and association leaders, cooperatives, as well as customary and religious leaders. The objective of this consultation framework was to take stock of the achievements made during the year 2025 and to identify the priority areas for 2026. In this spirit of exchange and sharing of experiences, the five provincial directorates currently operational in the province presented their respective reports, while outlining the main difficulties encountered and the challenges to be met.

Speaking at the event, the High Commissioner of Soum Province, Mr. Wend N©r© Wilfried Tougma, expressed his pride in the results achieved in 2025, despite the challenging security situation. According to him, the province achieved results that other localities, despite facing different circumstances, were unable to match. He also praised the efforts of the Provincial Director of Secondary Education, whose commitment enabled Soum to rise to the top of the baccalaureate results at the national level.

Mr. Tougma also announced the expansion of provincial consultation frameworks to better address grassroots concerns and support development initiatives across different social strata. He emphasized the need for improved coordination of humanitarian efforts to avoid the duplication of activities observed in the past. For 2026, the provincial authority intends to strengthen advocacy for the improvement of the security situation, increase support for partners in the areas of security, employment and structuring projects, intensify awareness-raising actions, strengthen collaboration with the FDS and further encourage the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP).

At the end of the discussions, Mr. Salif Wendmanegda ZOUNGRANA, private secretary to the High Commissioner of the province of Soum, indicated that the assessment made during the meeting shows that considerable efforts have been made, in particular by the decentralized services of the State and all humanitarian actors. According to him, the results achieved in 2025, although accomplished in a context of persistent challenges, constitute a solid foundation for future actions. He specified that the mapping of priority needs presented has enabled the High Commissioner to now direct humanitarian actors towards the most critical areas and sectors, where the emergencies are most pressing, particularly in the areas of health, food security, and education.

For Mr. Zoungrana, this approach is the best way to ensure that every franc invested and every action taken has a real and lasting impact on the living conditions of the people of Soum province. The meeting concluded on a note of general satisfaction, with participants and partners unanimously praising the quality of the discussions and the fruitful nature of this consultation framework.