Burkina Faso: During the examination of a bill to amend the mining code in Burkina Faso, some members of the government provided responses to the members of the Sustainable Development Commission.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (MATDS), Mr. Emile ZERBO, and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, Mr. Simon-Pierre BOUSSIM, met with members of the Sustainable Development Commission (CDD) of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) on Monday 17 July 2023 to provide answers to questions raised during the examination of the bill amending the mining code in Burkina Faso.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Security, Mr. Émile ZERBO, raised concerns, proposed amendments, and made suggestions related to provisions in the amended mining code, specifically Article 26.

He argued that in the current context of the country, marked by security and humanitarian challenges, and considering the increasing need for financial resources to combat terrorism, this modification is positive.

Minister ZERBO also advocated for the possibility of allowing local authorities to allocate a certain percentage of the Local Development Fund (FMDL) for operational purposes through implementing regulations.

The Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Mr. Simon-Pierre BOUSSIM, also provided responses to the concerns raised by the honorable members of the Sustainable Development Commission regarding his department within the scope of this bill.

The President of the Sustainable Development Commission, Mr. Gustave KONÉ, on behalf of all members of the commission, thanked the government officials for their responses.

He assured them that their input would be taken into account in the adoption of the final report, which will be discussed on the second day of the commission’s proceedings.

Yannick H.