Banfora: The raising of the colors takes place under the banner of the second anniversary of the AES Confederation. The Banfora courthouse hosted the rotating national flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 6, 2026. Presided over by Toussaint Meda, Secretary General of the Tannounyan region, representing the Governor, the ceremony also marked the second anniversary of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Secretary General of the region delivered the message from the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor©, who is also President of the Confederation of Sahel States. In his address to the nation, the Head of State recalled that the AES, created in response to the shared security challenges of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has become much more than an institutional framework. It now embodies the hope for an African renaissance founded on sovereignty, solidarity, and shared responsibility.
The President of the Confederation paid tribute to the fighting forces engaged in the fight against terrorism, as well as to the populations who are victims of this war. He welcomed the progress made during the first two years of the Confederation, including the strengthening of political and diplomatic cooperation between the three states, increased coordination of the defense and security forces, and progress towards deeper economic integration.
Captain Ibrahim Traor© also reaffirmed the AES's grand ambitions for the coming years, including strengthening collective self-defense, industrialization, energy and food sovereignty, local transformation of wealth, and the free movement of people and goods. He finally called on the people of the three countries to remain united and mobilized to consolidate the achievements of the Confederation and build a Sahelian space of peace, security, sovereignty, development, and prosperity.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Banfora High Court, Elvis Si© Ouattara, stated that through this flag-raising ceremony, "we are performing much more than a simple republican ritual." He added, "We are reaffirming our commitment to the nation, its values, and the ideal of peace, justice, and progress that underpins our shared life."
The President of the Banfora High Court reiterated the missions of the judicial institution and its role in consolidating the rule of law and social cohesion. He emphasized that the Banfora courthouse houses both the High Court and the Administrative Court, two jurisdictions working to guarantee accessible, impartial justice that respects citizens' rights.
The magistrate also presented the results achieved by his jurisdiction. From October 2025 to July 2026, the court registry registered over 1,127 requests of various kinds, 822 of which have already been processed, representing a processing rate of 73%. He attributed this performance to the ongoing commitment of the magistrates, court clerks, judicial interpreters, prison guards, and administrative staff.
The ceremony concluded with an invitation to strengthen the values of patriotism, discipline, and public service, in a spirit of fraternity and commitment to the service of the Nation.