Banfora: The city of Banfora hosted the regional conference on the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Led by the President of the National Commission of the Confederation (CNC), Bassolma Bazie, the meeting drew a large crowd from various localities in the Tannounyan region.According to Burkina Information Agency, this stop in Banfora marks the 11th region visited by the Commission team as part of its national tour. During his presentation, Bassolma Bazie addressed several themes related to the struggle undertaken by the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) for sovereignty and development.To set the scene, the speaker recalled the dark moments in the continent's history, from the era of slavery to independence, including colonization. He also mentioned the partitioning of the African continent among colonial powers in 1884, the atrocities suffered by African peoples, and the colonial agreements deemed exploitative, which long weakened the newly independent states. To move forward effectively, he emphasized, one must know not only where one is going but also where one has come from.Following this historical overview, Mr. Bazie explained the context of the founding of the ESA, and then that of the Confederation. According to him, each member country retains its sovereignty while collaborating around three major pillars: security and defense, diplomacy, and development. He emphasized the perilous nature of the struggle undertaken by ESA leaders for profound change within their region. A struggle whose success, he argued, depends on the mobilization, information, and education of the people.The governor of the Tannounyan region, Patrice Yeye, welcomed the National Commission's initiative. For him, these conferences represent both a moment for reflection and a call to action. The goal is to firmly embed the AES vision in the daily realities of our people. This requires the appropriation of the Confederation's values by the driving forces of our regio n, he stated. He also invited the population to support the AES authorities and embrace their vision for shared sovereignty and development.This conference in Banfora has, once again, helped to raise awareness among the population about the challenges of the CES and to strengthen unity around the confederal project.