OUAGADOUGOU – On 15 June 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) officially handed over to the Burkina Faso Government a migrant transit centre at Bassinko in Ouagadougou.

The ceremony was attended by the acting UN Resident Coordinator in Burkina Faso, Representative of the EU Delegation, Representative of IOM Mission in Burkina Faso, the President of the Special Delegation of Ouagadougou Arrondissement 8 as well as local dignitaries.

In her opening speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, Her Excellency Olivia Ragnaghnewendé Rouamba, highlighted the national authorities’ commitment to welcoming returnees with dignity and fostering their harmonious integration. She also commended the joint efforts of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of the European Union in Burkina Faso, which contributed to the construction the centre.

On receiving this infrastructure and equipment, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad stated that “the construction of this centre reflects the shared vision of the Government, IOM and the various partners on the need to put migrants at the centre of attention and find innovative solutions for migration crisis management”. The Bassinko transit centre, built in compliance with international standards, has numerous facilities to meet migrants’ basic needs. It has separate dormitories, bathrooms, communal areas, an office, a care room, a kitchen, a refectory, a sports area, and a children’s play area.

It is also equipped with a generator and a minibus, which was handed over to the authorities on this occasion to help the migrants adapt to their new environment.

Through this donation, IOM is reaffirming its commitment to working alongside the Government of Burkina Faso to meet the challenges related to migration management.

The centre was constructed by IOM with financial support from the European Union under the “EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration” project.

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For more information on this project, please contact:

Jean de Bournazel (email: jdebournazel@iom.int), Project Coordinator at IOM Burkina Faso.

Photo: Vincent Kiendrebéogo @ IOM Burkina Faso