July 10 - The Friends of President Ibrahim Traoré in the West (FPITW) delegation has returned from its historic mission to Burkina Faso.
A virtual debrief on Monday, July 14 at 8:00 PM EST has been scheduled where the Delegation will share highlights and extraordinary insights from their recent historic journey to Burkina Faso. This briefing will provide an inside look at our experiences on the ground, key findings, and the meaningful connections forged with leaders and communities.
Join the July 14 Virtual Debrief Zoom Meeting a 8:00 PM EST:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87284524405?pwd=z170AEDg4kUCOnY5ZAfmaK1Qn9CgfP.1&jst=2
Afrodescendant Special Envoy to Burkina Faso, Mr. Siphiwe Baleka and Afrodescendant Nation Lead Counsel Harriet AbuBakr with Burkina Faso Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Karamoko Traoré in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Already many are already asking, “what’s next?” During our meeting with the Burkina Faso Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Karamoko Traoré, it was agreed that a “broad framework” for engagement was the next order of business. Here are some important developments:
FPITW has opened an office inside the École Américaine de Ouagadougou to serve as the headquarters for activities in support of Burkina Faso, its people and its President and thereby to assist in supporting the Alliance of Sahel States.
2. The École Américaine de Ouagadougou (The African American Academy) is offering an exciting global opportunity available to passionate young people in our community: the Teach For Africa Fellowship Program.
Through this paid fellowship that includes competitive local stipend plus housing assistance and flight reimbursement for a two year commitment, recent graduates and aspiring leaders have the chance to teach at an African-centered schoo in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, gain international work experience, and contribute to empowering youth through education. Fellows receive professional training, mentorship, and support while immersing themselves in African culture and making a lasting impact.
The African American Academy is currently recruiting talented individuals from our local community who:
Hold a Bachelor’s degree (any field)
Are passionate about leadership, youth development, and Africa
Are eager to grow personally and professionally through global experience
No teaching experience is required—comprehensive training is provided.
This program can help transform the lives of many promising young people in our community.
For more details or to apply, please visit www.aaa-bf.org or email admin@aaa-bf.org with any questions.
3. The next delegation, consisting of sixteen people, will take place August 3-10 for a Diaspora Business and Investment Forum and will again meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Karamoko Traoré. Out of this tangible investment and development initiated by Afrodescendants must be realized because this is what Burkina Faso needs now.
4. FIPAN (Nguekhokh International Pan -African Festival) 2025 in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou) will be held from October 1 to October20,
* What is Fipan?
The Fipan or International Pan -African Festival of Nguekhokh, is a great gathering of economic, political, social and cultural actors on the continent, and, of its diasporas in order to discuss and propose solutions on issues and news challenges.
It is a framework for reflections, proposals and actions for which, basic organizations, must harmonize their approaches for more impact at the community level.
Our ideal is the construction of an African federal state, however this process requires coordinated actions conducted by Pan -African civil society, before leaning on the institutional and political scheme existing adapted to African realities.
* When and where did the FIPAN were born?
The FIPAN is set up in 2015 in the commune of Nguékhokh in the city of Mbour in Senegal, to offer a framework for reunion and exchanges to Pan -Africanism.
* Fipan vision
FIPAN is intended to be a geopolitical and diplomatic instrument of peoples, built around culture, art, by allowing an interconnection between actors, between institutions and between policies to lead to a concrete fusion in a dynamic process of endogenous development.
It is a school, to participate in mental deconstruction and ideological training by pooling achievements and experiences.
* Who participates in the fipan?
More than 20 African delegations and diasporas.
Cultural actors, craftsmen, artists, politicians, students, students, sociologists, guarantors of African ancestral values ... (all social components).
* Where and when will the 10th edition be held?
The 10th will be held in Ouagadougou capital of Burkina Faso, from October 01 to 20, 2025.
* What will this 10th edition wear?
For this 10th edition of the FIPAN, the main theme will focus on:
The challenges of economic sovereignty, practical case: alliance of the states of the Sahel (AES)
* What activities are planned?
- Conferences- Debates - Panels
-Ciné-forum
-Theatres-concert-taders
-Avisit of historical sites
-Righty
-Foire -Exposition
-Arebres to palaver etc ...
5. Burkina Faso may be holding the next Pan African Congress in May of 2026. On April 5, 2025, following the proposal submitted by Siphiwe Baleka, the Governing Council of the Global Pan African Movement (GPAM) officially proposed that the Alliance of Sahel states sponsor the Congress to be hosted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The letter to President Traoré stated,
“In addition to majority support within the Governing Council, we/I received an overwhelming mandate from the Latin American/Caribbean Regional Preparatory Conference for 8th PAC which convened on the 30th of March, 2025, to approach Your Excellency and request through your Office, that the Confederation of Sahel States co-host the 8th Pan African Congress over a period of five days toward the end of November in Ougadougou.”
It has been reported to this author that Traoré administration has initially agreed although there is now some debate about the original date which might not be enough time for proper organizing and which would directly conflict with the 9th Pan African Congress that is planed to be held in Lome, Togo from December 8 to the 12. Thus, the new date of May 2026 is being discussed for Burkina Faso and we pray that this comes to fruition.
Join the July 14 Virtual Debrief Zoom Meeting a 8:00 PM EST:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87284524405?pwd=z170AEDg4kUCOnY5ZAfmaK1Qn9CgfP.1&jst=2