Welcomes hundreds of Sahelian athletes to Ouagadougou for the upcoming JAES 2026 games
Burkina Faso is gearing up to experience an exciting celebration of sportsmanship and solidarity during the second edition of the Games of the Alliance of Sahel States (JAES), scheduled from September 7 to 16, 2026, in Ouagadougou.
Nearly 540 sports professionals, including competitors, trainers, and officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, will gather in the Burkinabè capital. Organizers confirmed during a press briefing at the Stade du 4-Août on Saturday, September 5, that the delegation will consist of 376 competitors alongside 164 trainers and sports officials.
Eleven sports disciplines headlining the tournament
Competitors representing the three member nations of the Confederation of Sahel States will go head-to-head across eleven different sports. The lineup features athletics, boxing, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, kung-fu wushu, wrestling, taekwondo, and archery.
Events will take place across various key locations in the capital city, such as the Stade du 4-Août, the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000, the CNOSB Martial Arts venue, the National Sports Medicine Center, Boulevard Capitaine Isidore-Noël-Thomas-Sankara, and the Hamdalaye Hippodrome.
Enhanced security and logistical arrangements for the guests
Visiting delegations are scheduled to arrive in Ouagadougou on September 5 and 6, with their departures set for September 17. The official launch ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 8, at 9:00 AM at the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000.
Furthermore, local authorities have ensured that all competition and lodging venues have undergone thorough safety inspections and security reinforcement. Specific measures are in place to guarantee smooth arrivals and local transit for the delegations, alongside tight security around all sporting venues.
Promoting regional solidarity through athletic competition
Under the high patronage of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the President of Faso, this second edition of the JAES is envisioned as more than just a series of athletic events. The organizers aim to utilize sports as a powerful bridge to bring the populations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger closer together.
This gathering is also expected to provide a welcome boost to local commerce and tourism in Ouagadougou, while fostering the growth of sporting activities both locally and across the wider region.
With the opening events just around the corner, authorities are calling on the local population, particularly the residents of Ouagadougou, to show up in large numbers to support the athletes and transform these games into a vibrant celebration of unity and mutual respect.
