Ouagadougou: Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo reaffirmed Burkina Faso's determination to achieve energy, water, and food sovereignty, conditions which he considers essential to the country's independence and sustainable development. "The fight we are waging is for total sovereignty: energy sovereignty, to produce and distribute accessible and sustainable energy; food sovereignty, to feed our people with our own resources; and water sovereignty, to control and preserve our blue gold in an increasingly arid environment," said Mr. Ouedraogo.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the head of government was speaking at the opening of the 6th edition of the African Energy and Renewable Energy Week (SEERA), which was themed: "Agriculture-Energy-Water Nexus: Challenges and Opportunities." He indicated that African sovereignty depends on the synergy between these three essential pillars. "There is no food sovereignty without energy and water sovereignty," he stated, emphasizing that African states must coherently articulate their public policies in these closely linked areas.
The Prime Minister highlighted that in a context of climate change, demographic pressure, and international tensions, the integration of agricultural, energy, and water needs is now an essential condition for ensuring the sustainable development and social stability of the continent. Mr. Ouedraogo also called for strengthened cooperation between African countries, based on resource sharing, knowledge pooling, and intelligent exploitation of the continent's potential, to transform current challenges into opportunities for innovation and progress.
The head of government assured that the recommendations stemming from the discussions will be carefully examined to guide national policies towards integrated governance of energy, water, and agricultural resources. The program for this 6th edition includes exhibitions, panels, and B2B meetings. Over three days, from November 7th to 9th, 2025, more than a thousand participants from diverse backgrounds will propose concrete solutions to support the continent's energy transition and food security.