Ouagadougou: The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signed an agreement to establish Daande Liptako, the official radio station of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), on Wednesday in Ouagadougou. The new radio station aims to enhance media sovereignty within the Confederation and tackle disinformation affecting the community.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop emphasized that this initiative emerges amid increasing manipulation and destabilization efforts. He highlighted the determination of the ESA's heads of state to implement tangible measures to safeguard their populations, moving beyond mere declarations.

Daande Liptako, translating to "the voice of Liptako" in Fulfulde, will operate from its base in Ouagadougou and broadcast in several national languages of the member countries. The radio station is designed to serve as a unifying voice for the member states, promoting accurate information and countering misleading narratives.

Burkinabe Minister of Communication Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo described the signing of the agreement as "a decisive step" towards consolidating the progress made since the AES was established two years ago. He reiterated the directive from the three heads of state for their governments to pursue full sovereignty, particularly in the realms of information and communication.

On the information and communication front, Minister Ouedraogo declared, "Sovereignty is non-negotiable. We want to be masters of our narrative and mobilize our populations against disinformation." The initiative also includes plans for a competition to design the radio station's logo and further agreements with the High Council for Communication and the Burkina Faso Broadcasting Corporation for content production.

The official launch of Daande Liptako is scheduled to coincide with the next AES summit in Bamako, marking a significant step in the Confederation's efforts to assert its media presence and authority.