CNFCI and UTCTE-SKBo are committed to securing the Sikasso-Korhogo and Bobodioulasso border area

The National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire (CNFCI) and the Cross-Border Confederation of Regional Communities of the Sikasso-Korhogo and Bobodoulasso Region (UTCTE-SKBo) signed, Friday in Abidjan, an agreement aimed at establishing a cooperative framework between the two institutions.

Cooperation Agreement

The agreement was initialed by the Executive Secretary of the National Border Commission of Côte d’Ivoire (CNFCI), Diakaldia Konate and President of the Cross-Border Confederation of Regional Communities of the Sikasso-Korhogo and Bobodiolasso Region (UTCTE-SKBo) Siama Bamba, at CNFCI Headquarters.

It was important to combine our strategies and energies to be able to provide solutions on the ground

Siama Bamba welcomed the presence of a number of local elected officials and members of this federation, “With the signing of today’s agreement, it is a strong sign that our two institutions signal progress towards a truly integrated management of our borders.” The President of the Volon (Minninian) Regional Council Sendo Cisse and Bakary Balu, the mayor of the municipality of Tangrila.

Mr. Bamba continued to face challenges in managing border areas. These include the various disputes relating to delimitation and demarcation, issues of porosity, security, cross-border smuggling, and the movement of people and goods.

The purpose of the signed agreement is to create a cooperation framework between CNFCI and UTCTE-SKBo to provide mutual technical assistance in carrying out certain studies or certain projects.

Challenges

“The stakes for this agreement are strategic,” Diakalidia Konate explained, “it is a space for eight million people interacting daily.”

“For very sensitive countries like Burkina and Mali, it was important that we pool our strategies and energies so that we could provide solutions on the ground,” concluded the CNFCI Executive Secretariat.

The Cross-Border Consortium of Local Authorities of Sikasso (Mali) Korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire) and the Bobodioulasso Region of Burkina Faso (UTCTE-SKBo), established in 2016, aims to facilitate and enhance cross-border cooperation between its members. .

The mission of the National Border Commission of Côte d’Ivoire (CNFCI), established in July 2017, is to assist the government in designing, defining and implementing the national policy and strategy.

This committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, and comprising 26 members, is responsible for making suggestions to the government regarding the demarcation, materialization and administration of borders.