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WHO Burkina Faso 2024–2025 Biennial Report: Major Health Progress and Resilience The World Health Organization (WHO) 2024–2025 Biennial Report for Burkina Faso outlines significant achievements made within a context defined by persistent security, humanitarian, and climatic challenges.Key accomplishments detailed include the nationwide scaling-up of the antimalarial vaccine across all 70 health districts, representing a critical leap forward in malaria prevention and safeguarding children's health. Furthermore, the report highlights the successful implementation of the WHO PEN package in six health districts, enhancing integrated management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the primary healthcare level.A significant regulatory milestone during the biennium was the e...

Burkina Faso has achieved a landmark milestone in its fight against malaria, a disease the nation is determined to eliminate by 2030. In 2025, the country recorded a historic decline in both malaria cases and fatalities. Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Minister of Health, addressed the media in Ouagadougou on February 20, 2026, highlighting these encouraging results. The number of malaria cases plunged from 10,805,000 in 2024 to 7,329,000 in 2025—a 32% reduction. Among children under five, the decline exceeded 1.9 million cases, representing a 38% drop. Malaria-related deaths also fell sharply, from 3,523 in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025—a 48% decrease. For children under five, deaths decreased from 893 in the previous year to a significantly lower figure in 2025. Speaking to reporters, Dr. K...

Burkina Faso's bold move: historic price cuts on essential medicines In a groundbreaking initiative, Burkina Faso has announced a sweeping reduction in the prices of essential generic medicines and medical supplies, with reductions as steep as 72%. This landmark decision aims to ease the financial burden on households and improve equitable access to healthcare across the nation. Key details of the price reductions: Tablets and capsules: Up to 67.27% price drop for certain generic forms Injectables: A 53.47% reduction in costs Syrups and suspensions: 20% cheaper for families Medical supplies: Dramatic 72.73% cut in pricing The announcement follows a Council of Ministers meeting on February 12, 2026, where authorities approved the measures to take effect on March 1, 2026. The r...

corruptionAfriqueCorruption : le nouveau classement révèle des reculsSandrine Blanchard | Alexa Meyer10/02/202610 février 2026Transparency International publie son nouvel Indice de perception de la corruption, qui évalue le niveau perçu de corruption dans le secteur public de 180 pays.https://p.dw.com/p/58SyhSelon l'indice de perception de la corruption 2025 (IPC) de Transparency International, la corruption s'aggrave à l'échelle mondiale. Y compris dans les démocraties établies qui sont confrontées à une augmentation de la corruption dans un contexte de déclin du leadership politique. L'IPC classe 182 pays et territoires en fonction de leur niveau perçu de corruption dans le secteur public sur une échelle de zéro (très corrompu) à 100 (très propre). Plus des deux tiers des pays ont un r...

A military drone strike in the Niger village of Kokoloko, located in the Tillabéri region, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 17 civilians—including four children—and left 13 others injured. The attack, which also claimed the lives of three Islamist fighters, occurred on January 6, 2026, at a bustling local market. The strike has raised serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law, particularly the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks that fail to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Experts suggest the incident could constitute a war crime if conducted with criminal intent. Understanding the aftermath of the Niger drone strike The Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), an active armed group in the region, has been operating in and around Kokoloko for y...

In a significant move to enhance healthcare accessibility across Mali, the Ministry of Health and Social Development officially received 39 robust 4x4 all-terrain vehicles. This crucial delivery, which took place on Thursday, February 5, 2026, aims to bolster the nation's health infrastructure and expand access to vital health services, particularly vaccination programs, in the country's most vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities. The handover ceremony was conducted at the Ministry of Health's headquarters within Bamako's Cité administrative.These vehicles represent an investment valued at 689 million CFA francs. According to Assa Badiallo Touré, the Minister of Health, this consignment is a direct outcome of the robust and productive collaboration between her ministry and Gavi, the Vac...

In a bold and unprecedented move, armed factions linked to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) launched a daring assault on the heart of Niamey, Niger’s capital. Late on January 28, 2025, a coordinated assault on Niamey’s airport and the adjacent 101st military base saw militants targeting both civilian aircraft and military installations, setting several vehicles ablaze. A video released by the attackers provided a chilling glimpse into their operation, highlighting the vulnerability of one of West Africa’s most critical security zones. Assessing Niger’s security landscape under President Tiani Since assuming leadership in the aftermath of a pivotal political transition, President Abdourahamane Tiani has faced immense pressure to stabilize a nation grappling with escalating e...

Key Achievements (2018-2024)Between 2018 and 2024, significant progress was made in bolstering healthcare infrastructure and service delivery, yielding the following impactful results:Expanded and Enhanced Health Services: In both Mali and Mauritania, over 5 million individuals, with women representing half of this total, gained access to fundamental health services. This remarkable achievement substantially surpassed the initial target of 3.65 million beneficiaries. Health facilities situated in the designated areas within these two nations saw a considerable uplift in their care quality, attributed to upgraded equipment, comprehensive staff training, and improved patient management protocols.Improved Obstetric Care: Within conflict-affected regions of Mali, the proportion of expectant mo...

West and Central Africa: Millions face starvation as violence and budget cuts deepen hunger crisis The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised the alarm: 55 million people in West and Central Africa are at risk of extreme hunger this summer, including 13 million children under five whose lives hang in the balance. This humanitarian catastrophe is being driven by two converging forces: rising violence and drastic budget reductions to critical aid programs. The WFP estimates that $453 million is urgently needed over the next six months to prevent a complete collapse of food assistance across the region. escalating food insecurity across the region Analysts warn that three million people will face emergency-level food insecurity (IPC Phase 4) in 2026—a figure that has more th...

2025: a landmark year for healthcare in Burkina Faso The year 2025 stands as a pivotal moment in the evolution of Burkina Faso’s healthcare system. Despite significant national challenges—including security and economic constraints—the sector achieved remarkable progress across infrastructure development, specialized care, and financial accessibility. Historic medical milestones in 2025 For the first time in its history, Burkina Faso successfully performed a kidney transplant within its borders in 2025. This groundbreaking procedure, carried out at the CHU Tengandogo in Ouagadougou, was made possible through the collaboration of skilled Burkinabè and Turkish medical teams. This achievement is expected to drastically reduce the country’s reliance on international medical evacuations for re...

Diphtheria Outbreak in Mali: A Crisis Fuelled by Humanitarian Collapse Since mid-September, Mali has been grappling with a rapid surge in diphtheria cases—an entirely preventable disease—thriving in a healthcare system weakened by chronic shortages, restricted access, and deepening instability. The outbreak exposes the fragility of public health infrastructure in a country already battling severe humanitarian challenges. Official Figures vs. Reality: The Scale of the Emergency As of early December, authorities reported over 530 confirmed cases and more than 30 fatalities. However, United Nations officials warn that these numbers likely understate the true extent of the crisis, citing widespread underreporting. The most severely affected regions—Mopti, Ségou, and Tombouctou—are also amon...

The nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which comprise the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) confederation, are currently led by military administrations that assumed power through coups between 2020 and 2023. These countries have adopted a staunchly sovereignist stance, moving away from traditional Western alliances. On Monday, the head of the Mali junta, Assimi Goïta, hosted his counterpart from Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, in Bamako. Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso, is expected to arrive on Tuesday for the second day of the high-level meeting. Establishing a collective security response A central focus for the three leaders is the development of a unified military force intended to halt the expansion of jihadist movements across their territories. Over the...