85,848 Abibisika (Black Gold) Points

Badges: UNIA Member – Powered by Abibitumi Abibitumi Mbôngi

Rank: Abibinwanwa Full Member

Burkina Faso Diaspora Engagement Planning Meeting Summary

Date of Meeting: July 19, 2025
Main Topic: Planning for the 2025 Diaspora Mission to Burkina Faso
Lead Facilitator: Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao

✅ 1. Trip Overview

• Dates of Visit:
  October 26 – November 8, 2025

• Theme:
  “We Are Home: Building African Futures Together”

• Presidential Approval:
  The trip and related diaspora initiatives have been officially approved by H.E. President Ibrahim Traoré.

✅ 2. Core Objectives of the Mission

• Citizenship:

  • Political decision: those approved will receive Burkina Faso citizenship.

  • Certificate ceremony expected during the visit (final date to be confirmed by the presidency).

  • Documentation process completed: dossiers submitted from Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Ministry of Justice.

• Pan-African Conversations:

  • Held every morning during the visit.

  • Discussions on strategy, building the Africa we want, and organizing for power.

• Trade Fair:

  • Held every afternoon (2–8 PM).

  • For Diaspora and continental entrepreneurs to showcase products and services.

• Diaspora Village Proposal:

  • Establishing a permanent residential base for the diaspora in Burkina Faso.

• Pan-African Radio Station:

  • Diaspora-led initiative proposal to be presented to the Burkina government.

• Diaspora Development Fund:

  • Proposed establishment of a development bank account or financial vehicle to consolidate contributions and finance infrastructure.

• Burkina Diaspora Library:

  • To be built in Ouagadougou.

  • Participants asked to bring books, laptops, and supplies to equip it.

✅ 3. Community Support: Supplies & Solidarity

• Humanitarian Support for IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons):

  • Near Ouagadougou.

  • Diaspora members will deliver clothes, medical supplies, and other basic necessities.

• Each participant is asked to bring:

  • 1 suitcase of clothes/shoes

  • 1 suitcase of medical supplies

  • 1 laptop or tablet for the community library

• Container Shipping Plan:

  • Collective shipment of supplies.

  • Shipping location will be announced with updates by next meeting.

✅ 4. Skills Transfer & Volunteering

• Service Days:

  • Focused days of technical service, capacity building, or infrastructure work.

  • Skills mapping Zoom session to follow to align diaspora expertise with government needs.

• Long-Term Volunteering:

  • Diaspora members encouraged to consider resettlement and long-term service in Burkina Faso.

✅ 5. Visa Requirements

• All travelers MUST obtain a visa, even if receiving citizenship.

  • E-visa available via Burkina Faso Embassy in Washington, D.C.

  • You must travel on your U.S. passport.

• A Zoom walk-through of the visa process will be scheduled by August.

✅ 6. Next Steps

• Registration for the Trip:

  • Registration portal will open August 1st.

  • All travelers must be registered to participate.

• Official Communications & Meetings:

  • A Telegram group will be set up for real-time updates.

  • Monthly Zoom meetings leading up to departure.

  • Next meeting scheduled for August 4, 2025.

✅ 7. Action Items for Participants

✅ 8. Contact & Coordination

• Questions & Updates:
  Will be addressed via the Telegram group and follow-up meetings.

• Trip Coordination Team:
  Includes leadership from Burkina Faso and Pan-African Diaspora organizers like Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao

• 🕘 July 14, 2025 – Diaspora Engagement Meeting Summary (Facilitated by Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao)

  00:00 – Welcome & Opening Remarks

  • Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao opened the meeting, welcomed all participants, and introduced the purpose of the planning session.

  00:05 – Presidential Approval

  • Official announcement that the President of Burkina Faso, H.E. Ibrahim Traoré, has approved the diaspora mission and granted authorization for citizenship for those previously approved.

  • Certificate ceremony will be arranged during the visit, pending final confirmation from the presidency.

  00:10 – Overview of the Diaspora Visit

  • Dates confirmed: October 26 – November 8, 2025.

  • Theme: “We Are Home: Building African Futures Together.”

  • Daily itinerary includes:

    • Morning Pan-African Conversations

    • Afternoon Trade Fair (2–8 PM)

  00:17 – Citizenship Logistics

  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted completed dossiers to the Ministry of Justice.

  • Even those approved for citizenship must enter with a valid visa and passport.

  00:25 – Visa Instructions

  • All participants must obtain a visa, regardless of citizenship status.

  • Visas must be acquired through the Burkina Faso Embassy in Washington, D.C.

  • A Zoom session will be scheduled to walk participants through the visa process in August.

  00:32 – Trade Fair Details

  • Entrepreneurs from the diaspora and Burkina Faso will showcase products and services daily.

  • Encouraged to build business linkages and highlight diaspora innovation.

  00:38 – Pan-African Conversations

  • Mornings dedicated to discussions on Pan-African strategy, power building, and socioeconomic transformation.

  • Expected to include Burkinabè officials and diaspora leaders.

  00:45 – Solidarity Supplies for IDPs

  • Participants requested to bring:

    • 1 suitcase of clothes/shoes

    • 1 suitcase of medical supplies

    • 1 laptop or tablet for community use.

  • Humanitarian donations will go to internally displaced persons near Ouagadougou.

  • Container logistics to be shared in the next meeting.

  00:52 – Diaspora Village Project

  • Proposal for a permanent residential village for diaspora members.

  • Land to be allocated by the Burkina Faso government pending final proposal.

  00:57 – Pan-African Radio Station

  • Proposal to establish a diaspora-led Pan-African media outlet.

  • Would broadcast across West Africa and online.

  01:02 – Diaspora Development Fund

  • Discussed the need for a financial mechanism (e.g., diaspora fund or bank account) to support infrastructure, education, and development.

  • Details to be refined in a follow-up working group.

  01:08 – Burkina Diaspora Library

  • Diaspora participants asked to contribute books, laptops, tablets.

  • Goal: fully stock a community library in Ouagadougou by November.

  01:12 – Skills Transfer & Service Days

  • Participants will engage in volunteer service projects based on skills mapping.

  • A follow-up Zoom session will collect technical and professional expertise from participants.

  01:18 – Long-Term Volunteering & Resettlement

  • Call for participants interested in long-term service or relocation to Burkina Faso.

  • Framework for integration into local communities to be developed.

  01:25 – Next Steps & Communications

  • Trip registration opens August 1, 2025.

  • A Telegram group will be created for real-time updates.

  • Next Zoom planning meeting scheduled for August 4, 2025.

  • Skills mapping form and shipping logistics coming soon.

  01:30 – Closing Remarks

  • Dr. Chihombori-Quao reiterated the historic nature of this mission and thanked attendees.

  • Emphasized this is more than a trip—it’s a Pan-Afrikan movement of return, restoration, and rebuilding.