Burkina Faso - For the first time, Burkina Faso will be able to monitor electronically migration flows at the border crossings of Dakola (border with Ghana) Madouba Department (border with Mali) and Yendéré (border with Côte d'Ivoire), following the instalment of a Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), donated by IOM Burkina Faso and funded by the Government of Japan.

With growing insecurity at borders in the region, the installation of MIDAS will represent a significant improvement in migration data collection and management of migration flows into and out of Burkina Faso.

The handover ceremony was held at the offices of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Homeland Security in Ouagadougou. It was attended by Japanese Ambassador Masato Futaishi and IOM Burkina Faso Head of Office Abdel Rahmane Diop.

They handed over the MIDAS system to Simon Compaore, Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Homeland Security, representing the National and Border Police of Burkina Faso.

This initiative is part of an IOM project: Coordinated Border Management in Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, funded by the Government of Japan.

Ambassador Futaishi said: “The recent acts of terrorism in the region have once again underlined the importance of the management and protection of borders and cross border cooperation. This partnership between the G5 countries Sahel, IOM and Japan should serve as an example. I would like to reassure you of the full cooperation of Japan to support the west and central African region in its collective efforts in the promotion of peace, security, stability and development.”

Diop said: “The IOM Burkina Faso Country Office is very pleased to be able to support the Burkinabe government with this installation of MIDAS. We are convinced that MIDAS will improve and increase the collection and management of migration data.”

For further information please contact Cindy Nouria Zongo at IOM Burkina Faso, Tel: +226 67711366, Email: czongo@iom.int