Ouagadougou: The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been prominently featured in today’s headlines.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the public newspaper Sidwaya announced on its front page that the AES countries are pulling out from the ICC with immediate effect, a move officially declared by the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism during the 8 p.m. news broadcast on September 22, 2025. This decision was further corroborated by a joint statement from the ESA Confederation, underscoring the countries’ intention to fully exercise their sovereignty.
The oldest private daily newspaper in Burkina Faso, L’Observateur Paalga, also highlighted the distancing of the AES from The Hague. Meanwhile, the private newspaper Le Pays reported on the AES Confederation’s expression of gratitude towards the United Nations and its member states, assuring them of continued cooperation in other appropriate frameworks for the promotion and protection of human rights and respect for sovereignty.
In other news, the 80th United Nations General Assembly is underway, with Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo providing guidance to the Burkinabe delegation. During a preparatory meeting held on September 21, 2025, at the permanent representation of Burkina Faso in New York, His Excellency Ambassador Oumarou Ganou outlined the main points and challenges of the high-level week.
Additionally, the state daily reported that the Prime Minister met with the vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, Mangue Teodoro Nguema Obiang, on September 22, 2025, in New York. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
As for the 15th edition of the Ouagadougou International Tourism and Hospitality Fair (SITHO), Sidwaya mentioned that over 10,000 visitors are expected to attend. The organizing committee, during a press conference on September 22, 2025, provided an update on the preparations for the event, slated to begin on September 25.