Ouagadougou: The defense and security forces, public administration agents, and the residents of Leo came together on Thursday, August 6, 2026, for a civil-military cross-country race. The event aimed to promote social cohesion and republican solidarity in the community.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the race was organized by the local agency of the National Office for Water and Sanitation (ONEA). Participants ran through the main streets of downtown Leo, culminating in an aerobics session at the House of Youth and Culture. The event was marked by a strong turnout, despite a busy institutional schedule, as noted by Baowindsida Bingo, Secretary General of the Province, representing the High Commissioner of the Sissili Province, Tewinde Isaac Sia.
Bingo commended the participation, highlighting the effort made despite the ongoing mandatory patriotic immersion period that had engaged many defense and security forces. He expressed gratitude to ONEA for their support in organizing the event and the flag-raising ceremony.
Nayile Theodore Wendemi Meda, head of the ONEA center in Leo, also expressed appreciation for the participants and emphasized the importance of maintaining the community's dynamism and commitment.
Participants like Djibril Nebie, a school teacher, underscored the broader significance of the event beyond physical fitness. Nebie emphasized the event's role in promoting social cohesion and peace, urging the youth of Leo to actively participate in such initiatives, especially given the current situation in Burkina Faso.
The event also included several institutional announcements. Denis Niki¨ma, provincial director in charge of Sports, Youth, and Employment, announced upcoming celebrations for International Youth Day on August 12, which will feature sporting activities and a community day dedicated to board games.
Additionally, the provincial coordinator of the Agency for the Promotion of Community Entrepreneurship (APEC), Comrade Niki¨ma, reminded attendees about the resumption of subscriptions and the updating of databases in Leo, encouraging citizens to visit the agency's premises.
The event concluded with a sense of satisfaction and a collective commitment to reconvene next month under the leadership of another administrative structure in the province.