Weekly review of the extractive sector in West Africa: preparations for the 8th SAMAO alongside the first AES Energy, Mining and Hydrocarbons Week, Burkina Faso's gold output in the first half of 2026, and mining permit renewals and awards in Mali and Niger.
The gynaecology-obstetrics department of the CHU de Pala successfully removed a giant fibroadenoma weighing 700 grams from the right breast of a 20-year-old schoolgirl. The patient went home without complications while awaiting the final pathology results.
The Société des Aéroports du Faso presented certificates to 100 young people who took part in its "Génération SAFA" programme, launched in June 2026. An agreement also provides for relaunching the Ouagadougou Aero Club and setting up a scholarship programme for future pilots.
On his first operational mission as head of the ICRC's Africa department, Mamadou Sow visited Gao, Timbuktu and Mopti and praised the resilience of communities and cooperation with Malian authorities. He also called for respect for international humanitarian law.
Governor of the Bankui and Sourou regions, Babo Pierre Bassinga, visited Toma, capital of Nayala province, to follow the compulsory patriotic immersion and encourage the 348 conscripts. He urged them to show discipline and embody patriotism.
On 1 August 2026, the 15th edition of Excursion Nahouri gathered hikers from across Burkina Faso and abroad at Pic Nahouri (447 m). The report describes the climb, the view from the summit and the event, held during the Grande saison du Tourisme interne.
Burkinabè midfielder Ibrahim Blati Touré of Al Ahli Tripoli contracted malaria after a stay in Burkina Faso. He is undergoing treatment and his condition is improving, but he missed his team's preparation camp in Egypt.
At least 30 people were killed and 22 injured when part of the Dar-es-Salam dump collapsed on the outskirts of Conakry during heavy rains. The Guinean government announced the toll, and the territorial administration minister said relocation of nearby residents had been under way.
An opinion piece, citing official data, presents China's foreign trade as a driver for the world: rising Chinese imports, zero tariffs for 63 countries and an exemption for 53 African countries. It rejects Western criticism of a "China shock".
At least 30 people were killed in Conakry, Guinea, when a mass of waste collapsed at the Dar Es Salam landfill after heavy rains. Residents who came to help were buried in a second collapse.
Niamey hosts the first confederal session of the AES Parliaments from 24 to 29 August 2026, with the installation of 45 deputies appointed by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The work will include adopting the internal rules of the Confederal Parliament.
In Mali, the Council of Ministers adopted draft decrees renewing ten exploration permits for gold, lithium and group 2 mineral substances held by several companies. The renewals extend exploration for 3 years, renewable once.
In Togo, a decree signed on 18 August 2026 lifts the suspension of applications for mineral prospecting authorisations and exploration permits, in place since March 2025. An ad hoc committee is rewriting the mining code.
The Niger government granted or re-granted two uranium mining permits in the Agadez region: "In Azaoua" to TSUMCO SA, which succeeded the nationalised SOMAÏR, and "Madaouela I" to MAMICO. The re-granted permit includes an initial flat-rate royalty of 5.5 billion FCFA and about 1,000 jobs for young…
Mining company Kiaka SA donated food to the 2,074 conscripts of the 2026 Mandatory Patriotic Immersion in the Nazinon region, in Manga, responding to the governor's call for contributions. The donation includes rice, pasta, oil, sugar and tea.
A 14-year-old Burkinabè creator, Chérif Kounta, founder of Alpha IA, presents FasoNova, an artificial intelligence designed in Burkina Faso. The provided text is truncated and does not give further details about the project.
The Islamic Development Bank is considering a new health sector support operation in Burkina Faso, presented as a second phase of the PRSS-ASN project, with the aim of starting in the first quarter of 2027. The talks were held with the Minister of Health.
At least 30 people were killed in Conakry after a mass of waste collapsed at the Dar Es Salam landfill, the capital's largest, following heavy rains. A search and rescue operation is underway.
DR Congo and the M23 (AFC/M23) agreed on a roadmap during talks in Switzerland to guide the next stage of peace negotiations, following the Doha framework agreement. Military tensions persist in eastern DR Congo.
A Juncao technology training course bringing together 100 participants opened in Ouagadougou and runs from 24 August to 16 September 2026. Funded by China and run with Burkina Faso's Agriculture Ministry, it aims to produce quality fodder and edible mushrooms.
