Sahel solidarity takes center stage as Ouagadougou prepares for 2026 AES Games

Burkina Faso is set to pulsate with the rhythm of sport and camaraderie as it hosts the second edition of the Alliance of Sahel States Games (JAES), scheduled for September 7-16, 2026, in Ouagadougou.

Nearly 540 athletes, coaches, and officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are expected to converge on the Burkinabè capital. According to the organizers, the delegation will comprise 376 athletes and 164 coaches and officials. These figures were disclosed on Saturday, September 5, during a press conference held at the Stade du 4-Août.

Eleven sports on the agenda

Athletes from the three member states of the Confederation of Sahel States will compete across eleven disciplines, including athletics, boxing, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, kung-fu wushu, wrestling, taekwondo, and archery.

The events will unfold at various venues across the capital, notably the Stade du 4-Août, the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000, the CNOSB Martial Arts Hall, the National Medico-Sportive Centre, along Boulevard Capitaine Isidore-Noël-Thomas-Sankara, and the Hamdalaye Hippodrome.

Enhanced hospitality and security measures

Delegations are due to arrive in Ouagadougou on September 5 and 6, with their departure slated for September 17. The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at 9 a.m. at the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000.

Furthermore, authorities have assured that all competition and accommodation venues have undergone thorough inspections and security enhancements. Special arrangements have also been made to streamline the reception and movement of delegations, as well as to ensure safety around the sporting arenas.

Sport as a catalyst for fraternity

Under the high patronage of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, this second edition of the JAES aims to transcend mere athletic competition. Organizers envision sport as a bridge to foster closer ties among the peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

The event is also touted as an opportunity to invigorate economic and tourism activity in Ouagadougou, while contributing to the growth of the national and sub-regional sports movement.

With the kickoff just hours away, authorities are calling on the public, particularly residents of Ouagadougou, to turn out in force and cheer on the athletes, transforming these Games into a true popular celebration marked by fraternity and sharing.