Tag Archives: Burkina

AMA, Health

Science serving lives: Interview with Dr. Alice Guingané, public health researcher (Burkina Faso)

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Geneva, Switzerland, 20 April 2026- /African Media Agency (AMA)/- On World Health Day 2026, under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science,” the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights individuals using science to improve lives in the African Region.

Dr Alice Guingané, a hepato-gastroenterologist and lecturer-researcher at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University in Ouagadougou, is actively engaged in clinical research and disease surveillance. She emphasises that supporting science saves lives.

What role does science play in your daily work? 
Science is at the heart of my daily work. As a physician and a lecturer-researcher at a university hospital, my role is threefold: to provide care, to teach, and to conduct research. Science guides how I think, make decisions, and act.

In clinical care, it enables me to analyse symptoms rigorously, distinguish facts from beliefs, and make evidence-based decisions. In teaching, I strive to make scientific knowledge accessible, including through awareness sessions with patients and communities.
In research, I use epidemiological data to identify public health priorities, select effective interventions, and assess their impact in the field. Science also guides my values: respect for human dignity, responsibility, and commitment to the community.

What motivated you to engage in health research? 
Above all, the desire to find solutions to patients’ problems. I will never forget a nine-year-old boy who died of liver cancer linked to hepatitis B. Like many others, he arrived at the hospital too late, even though a vaccine exists from birth.

This reality pushed me to understand why pregnant women did not access care in time, and how to improve prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. I oriented all my research around this issue, seeking solutions adapted to our context, training students, and conducting field projects.

Why is it essential that science be supported by society and local authorities? 
Society is at the heart of health research: without community participation, even free services may remain underused due to sociocultural barriers.

Local authorities also play a key role in guiding, regulating and financing research. Producing one’s own data means being able to define one’s health priorities. Science enables evidence-based decision-making, reduces mortality, improves quality of life, and drives innovation and national sovereignty.

How does your work contribute to strengthening disease surveillance in Burkina Faso? 
I am currently the principal investigator in Burkina Faso for a project on the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. This integrated approach, supported by WHO, allows resources to be pooled and data to be generated that are directly usable by decision-makers.

I also participate in the HEPSANET network, which aims to strengthen epidemiological data on viral hepatitis in Africa. These initiatives contribute to better surveillance of diseases and their complications, particularly liver cancer.

What is needed to strengthen public trust in science? 
Science must be accessible. It is essential to communicate research findings in clear and understandable ways and to create effective channels to reach communities, health professionals, and decision-makers.

Another major challenge is tackling misinformation. In our context, some traditional beliefs may conflict with modern medicine. Encouraging dialogue and the guided integration of different care practices is essential to strengthening trust.

As a woman scientist, what message do you have for young girls? 
I would encourage them not to hesitate to pursue research it is a deeply rewarding endeavour. It requires organization and balance with family life, but it is not a sprint—it is a long-term commitment. Believe in your abilities, keep your passion alive, and you will accomplish extraordinary things.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of World Health Organisation.

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Agriculture, AMA

Burkina Faso: A New Project to Accelerate the Transformation of the Agricultural Sector

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Washington, USA, 11 March 2026 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- The World Bank today approved a project totaling $215.9 million (about CFAF 118.7 billion) to support the development of the agricultural sector. The Burkina Faso Agricultural Transformation Project is in line with national priorities in terms of food security, job creation and promotion of the private sector.

The new project will focus on developing priority agricultural value chains, including rice and maize, by supporting productivity improvements, modernization of processing infrastructure, and better access to markets. It will also help address financing constraints to foster private investment and technology adoption.

Attention will be paid to the inclusion of women and youth, to strengthen their participation in agricultural value chains and support the creation of sustainable jobs in rural areas.

“Agriculture remains a central pillar of the Burkinabè economy and a key lever for food security and the resilience of rural populations. Through this project, the World Bank reaffirms its commitment to supporting Burkina Faso in transforming its agricultural sector with a view to more inclusive and sustainable growth,” explains Hamoud Abdel Wedoud Kamil, World Bank Country Manager for Burkina Faso.

The project will be implemented in close collaboration with national authorities, private sector actors, and decentralized stakeholders, to ensure strong ownership and sustainable results, and will cover four of the country’s seventeen regions. These zones were selected for their agricultural potential, the presence of priority value chains – including rice and maize – as well as the potential to scale up interventions already implemented under the World Bank-financed Agriculture Resilience and Competitiveness Project (PReCA).

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Word Bank Group.

Contacts
In Ouagadougou:
Lionel Yaro,
(+226) 25 49 63 00
lyaro@worldbank.org

The post Burkina Faso: A New Project to Accelerate the Transformation of the Agricultural Sector appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Health

From villages to markets: Burkina Faso leads the way in cervical cancer elimination

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Geneva, Switzerland, 04 February 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-“When I heard the town crier announce that health workers were coming for free screening, I felt afraid: if they told me I had the disease, how would I get treated? But I thought of my children and decided to go,” says Awa, 48, a mother of six living in Ipendo, in Burkina Faso’s Centre-West region.

Like Awa, thousands of women in the country have long lived with this concern, given the challenges in accessing health services. Their situation illustrates a major issue: cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers among women in the country.

Before the implementation of WHO’s global strategy to accelerate its elimination, screening coverage was very low—less than 8%—and rural areas were particularly disadvantaged. Women had to travel dozens, sometimes hundreds, of kilometres to reach an equipped centre, often without financial means for transport or care. Trained health professionals were scarce and awareness was almost nonexistent.

To overcome these obstacles, the Burkinabe government took bold measures, explains Dr Nayi Zongo, oncologist, public health physician and coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme (PNLC). “The government adopted a decree making screening and treatment of precancerous lesions free of charge. It also equipped some peripheral health centres and introduced mobile clinics to reach women.”

These mobile clinics have become a symbol of health equity: they travel to villages, farms, markets and even family courtyards. Women no longer need to leave their agricultural or domestic activities to get screened. “Screening is brought closer to communities, allowing women to continue their activities while safeguarding their health,” emphasizes Dr Zongo.

The Burkinabe initiative stands out for its synergy of several strategic approaches: removing financial barriers (free care), overcoming geographic barriers through mobile clinics and mobilizing communities. The country also integrated awareness campaigns through TV and radio spots and popular events like “Pink October” and created a national cancer coalition bringing together civil society, community leaders and the media to generate demand. This comprehensive approach has turned the fight against cervical cancer into a national cause.

WHO’s support was crucial in making this vision a reality. The Organization provided technical assistance for developing national guidelines, trained health professionals in detecting and treating precancerous lesions and supported community mobilization. “WHO stood by us to strengthen our capacities and ensure that every woman, wherever she lives, can access this vital service,” says Dr Zongo.

The results are impressive. In just one year, from October 2024 to September 2025, 468 mobile clinic missions were organized in various localities. These missions raised awareness among nearly 2 million women, conducted over 106 000 screenings, performed 715 removals precancerous lesions and carried out over 100 advanced examinations to confirm diagnoses. These figures are more than statistics: they represent lives saved and families preserved.

For WHO, this success illustrates the power of collaboration. “Burkina Faso shows that with strong political commitment and context-appropriate solutions, it is possible to overcome barriers that once seemed insurmountable,” says Dr Seydou Coulibaly, WHO Representative in Burkina Faso. He stresses the exemplary nature of this initiative in Africa: “Removing financial and geographic obstacles through free care and mobile clinics is an inspiring model for other countries.”

In villages, these efforts translate into real stories. Awa, the mother of six, describes her daily life: “We work in the fields, garden and sell vegetables at the market. When we heard about the screening, I was scared. But other women’s testimonies convinced me. On the day of the test, the health workers explained every step. When the result came back negative, I felt great relief. Today, I advise all women to get screened. If the disease is detected early, treatment is easier,” she says confidently.

For many women like Awa, these mobile clinics represent much more than a medical service: they often provide the very first opportunity to hear about cervical cancer, understand the risks, and learn that it can be prevented. This initial information is a decisive step, as it opens the door to prevention and care.

Beyond health, this initiative touches on dignity, social justice, and the future of families. Every mobile clinic that arrives in a village carries a message: health is a right, not a privilege. And in Burkina Faso, that right is becoming a reality.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Word Health Organisation

The post From villages to markets: Burkina Faso leads the way in cervical cancer elimination appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Health, Technology

Building trust, talent and technology to defeat malaria

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World Mosquito Day 2025: Why investment in communities, researchers and innovation matters more than ever

Dr. Léa Paré Toé, Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Target Malaria Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, August 18, 2025 /African Media Agency (AMA)/ – As the world marks World Mosquito Day on August 20th, the calls for renewed investment in the people, partnerships and innovations needed to beat malaria – a disease that still claims over half a million African lives every year, and mostly young children – is louder than ever.

Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium working in Africa to develop genetic technologies – such as gene drive (designed to reduce the population of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes) – has invested in the technology, training and development needed to heed the call to protect lives threatened by malaria in Africa.

With mounting pressures and challenges from climate change, insecticide resistance, and fragile health systems on the continent, governments and funders are urged to see genetic tools not as replacements, but as complementary innovations that can work alongside existing malaria interventions. But, these new solutions must go hand-in-hand with strong community engagement and scientific capacity-building.

“Every child lost to malaria is a failure of imagination and investment,” says Dr. Léa Paré Toé, Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Target Malaria Burkina Faso, at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS). “On World Mosquito Day, we’re asking the world to invest not just in technology, but in the people and partnerships that will make it work.”

Investment in technology

How Target Malaria’s gene drive technology works: A genetic trait is introduced into the targeted Anopheles mosquito, one of the main carriers of the malaria parasite. This gene is passed down to offspring at a higher-than-normal rate, gradually reducing the population’s ability to reproduce. Over time, the mosquito population declines – potentially enough to interrupt malaria transmission altogether.

This technology is not designed to eradicate all mosquitoes – nor could it. Of more than 3,500 known mosquito species, only about 30 are a public health concern. Of those, just three or four are responsible for most malaria transmission in Africa. Target Malaria’s research is based on these.

Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté in the laboratory at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS), in Bobo-Dioulasso,
Burkina Faso. Credit: Target Malaria

Investing in trust

“You can’t introduce scientific innovation without first investing in the trust of communities and the people who will carry this work forward,” says Dr. Paré Toé. “Our partnerships with local communities are foundational to our research – they are co-creators of this work, not just beneficiaries.”

In Burkina Faso and Uganda, the team has built long-term relationships with villages where research is taking place, ensuring residents are informed, consulted, and empowered to contribute to decisions. 

To deepen community understanding of gene drive research, Target Malaria has invested in a suite of creative educational tools. These include interactive theatre performances in local languages, visual presentations, radio and broadcast programs. These tools are helping to build trust, transparency, and meaningful dialogue around the science, especially in communities directly involved in the research.

“This model of engagement is now seen as a blueprint for responsible research across the continent,” adds Dr. Paré Toé.

Investment in talent

In Burkina Faso and in Uganda, Target Malaria team members are actively involved in training a new generation of young African scientists to lead the fight against vector-borne diseases. From entomologists and molecular biologists to social scientists and ethicists, the not-for-profit is supporting local expertise and infrastructure to ensure African-led solutions to Africa’s health challenges. 

In 2023, the project completed a new insectary and laboratory space on the premises of the University of Ghana, dedicated to the study the ecological effects of suppressing malaria mosquitoes. The Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI), where Target Malaria Uganda is based, was recently named the East African Community (EAC) Regional Centre of Excellence for Virology. 

In addition to building infrastructure and partnerships, the team in Burkina Faso is playing a significant role in training future generations of African scientists. Researchers at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) supervise Master’s and PhD students, while the African Center of Excellence for Biotechnological Innovations for the Elimination of Vector-Borne Diseases (CEA/ITECH-MTV), led by Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté in partnership with Nazi Boni University and others, provides hands-on training focused on innovative approaches to combat vector-borne diseases. Many students from across the continent – including Kenya, Benin, and Burkina Faso – also benefit from research exchanges with leading laboratories in Europe.

“Our goal is to equip a new generation of high-performing scientists to adapt emerging technologies to Africa’s development priorities,” says Dr. Paré Toé.

“Malaria won’t be solved alone, we need collective efforts to beat the disease. But, because malaria is an African problem, we’re building African scientific leadership, so the next breakthrough doesn’t just happen in Africa – it’s led by Africa.”

Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté with scientists from Target Malaria Burkina Faso.
Credit: Target Malaria

Recently, Dr. Léa Paré Toé was elevated to the rank of Knight of the Academic Palms alongside the Principal Investigator of Target Malaria Burkina Faso, Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté who was awarded the title of Knight of the International Order of Academic Palms by the CAMES, a Pan- African organisation promoting cooperation in the field of higher education and research.

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Target Malaria.

Notes to editors:

To find out more about malaria transmitting mosquitoes visit Target Malaria’s educational series here and here.

About Target Malaria:

Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission. Our vision is to contribute to a world free of malaria. We aim to achieve excellence in all areas of our work, creating a path for responsible research and development of genetic technologies, such as gene drive. www.targetmalaria.org.

Target Malaria receives core funding by the Gates Foundation and Open Philanthropy. The lead grantee organisation is Imperial College London with partners in Africa, Europe and North America.

Follow Target Malaria  Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube

The post Building trust, talent and technology to defeat malaria appeared first on African Media Agency.

Lifestyle

Thomas Sankara’s mausoleum opens to honor revolutionary leader

Maravi Post Reporter

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis Kéré designed the memorial in Ouagadougou in tribute to Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader.

The recently opened mausoleum of the father of Burkina Faso’s 1983 Revolution and his 12 aides, assassinated the same year, proudly stands on the site of the Conseil de l’Entente. The mausoleum is over 70 meters high, it’s designed in the shape of an eye, with descending steps representing the 13 fallen martyrs. The site is a bold tribute to the revolution’s triumph over imperialism.

 “This mausoleum represents the revolution’s victory over reactionary forces, the triumph of Thomas Sankara’s ideology that was sovereignty-driven over imperialism’s enslaving ambitions. It’s a victory for oppressed peoples against their oppressors. A triumph of the colonized over the colonizers.” Serge Bayala Imotep, Civil Society Activist, said.

Built with bricks made of laterite blocks, the memorial is environmentally friendly, representing some of Sankara’s own vision: championing the use of local resources for Burkina Faso’s sustainable development. The country’s Prime Minister said it’s more than a building but also a space for collective awakening.

 “This is a site for the collective consciousness of Burkinabè, of freedom fighters, and of all those who cherish peace and social justice, and of  the sacrifice made by President Thomas Sankara and his aides. This mausoleum also bears witness to a persecuted but enduring integrity.” Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, said.

The site also includes a restaurant, media library, workshops and offices, all linked by a leafy promenade. The space aims to educate, bring people together and provide a contemplative environment to reflect on Sankara’s principles of justice and social equity.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/21/85/08/ED_PYR_1521858_20250519040911.mp4
Lifestyle

Pope urges Christian Brothers to be mindful of challenges young people face

Maravi Post Reporter

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV met with the Brothers of Christian Schools in the Vatican on Thursday.

The group includes several hundred priests and nuns who work as teachers in Catholic schools around the globe.

He urged them to be mindful of the challenges faced by young people in today’s world.

“We think of the isolation caused by relationship patterns increasingly marked by superficiality, individualism, and emotional instability,” he told the group.

The pontiff added that there was a “spread of patterns of thought weakened by relativism, and the prevalence of rhythms and lifestyles in which there is not enough room for listening, reflection, and dialogue.”

This, he said, was the case at school, in the family, and sometimes among peers themselves, “resulting in loneliness”.

Founded by a French priest and educator in 1680, the brothers are marking the 300th anniversary of the institute’s recognition by Pope Benedict XIII in 1725.

Today, its schools can be found across the world including in 22 African countries, with a focus on education, community development, and youth formation.

It has also established six universities in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, and Kenya), each specialising in fields such as education, engineering, and medicine.

The Brothers are also involved in community outreach, offering health and educational services, vocational training, and support for marginalised populations.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/98/77/02/ED_PYR_1498772_20250515130649.mp4
Lifestyle

Africa’s youngest leader divides opinion over Russia ties

Maravi Post Reporter

As news emerged this week about hundreds of Burkina Faso citizens killed separately by both jihadi groups and government forces, images of Burkina Faso’s junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore were plastered over Russian state media speaking about pan-Africanism and liberating the minds of the continent’s youths.

Traore, who was in Moscow for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is Africa’s youngest leader at 37, a strong appeal for the continent’s young population that is used to much older leaders.

Since coming to power in September 2022 after the country’s second coup that year, he has dwelt on a rhetoric of self-reliance and independence from the West, particularly former colonial ruler France — a message that often resonates with young Africans and the diaspora.

Why is Traore trending

The latest Traore frenzy reached a new peak late April with a solidarity march in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou, following an alleged coup attempt and comments by Gen. Michael Langley, the head of U.S. military in Africa, accusing the Burkina Faso leader of misusing the country’s gold reserves.

Following the 2022 coup that brought him to power, Traore promised to end the country’s decadeslong deadly security crisis and leverage its rich mineral resources for the benefit of its 24 million citizens.

Alongside the coup-hit nations of Niger and Mali, Burkina Faso has since severed ties with the regional bloc of ECOWAS — criticized by many young Africans as representing the interest of leaders and not the citizens — as well as longstanding Western allies such as France, whose military provided security support to the government for many years to help its security crisis.

Analysts and locals suggest that these factors, combined with his youth, have contributed to Traore’s appeal among young Africans.

“There is a growing consciousness among African youth at home and abroad that they need to do something about the continent’s lack of progress,” said Richard Alandu, a Ghanaian living near the border with Burkina Faso. “It appears Traore has become the face of that consciousness.”

How has Traore fared as Burkina Faso’s junta leader

The security crisis that Traore vowed to resolve has worsened instead, slowing the country’s overall economic development and preventing most citizens from benefiting from its mineral wealth, according to analysts and researchers’ data.

“There has been no real progress on the ground” in Burkina Faso, said Gbara Awanen, a professor of international relations and security studies at Nigeria’s Baze University, who specializes in West Africa. “A lot of it is just sleek propaganda.”

Data from the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, shows that while 2,894 people were killed by both government and armed groups during the year before the 2022 coup, the number has more than doubled to at least 7,200 in the last year.

Analysts say the attacks have worsened to the point that Ouagadougou is now increasingly threatened, with more than 60% of the country outside of government control. At least 2.1 million people have lost their homes as a result of the violence, and almost 6.5 million need humanitarian aid to survive, conservative estimates show.

Propaganda rhythms

Babacar Ndiaye, a senior fellow at the Senegal-based Timbuktu Institute for Peace Studies, attributes the current frenzy surrounding Traore primarily to his popularity — and Russia-driven propaganda

Despite Burkina Faso’s worsening security crisis, Traore still has “so much resonance and interest simply because of propaganda,” Ndiaye said. “In Africa, there is deep frustration with the traditional leadership, so there is polarized anger towards a scapegoat that is the west.”

West Africa, meanwhile, has a history of young men seizing power as exemplified by John Jerry Rawlings in Ghana, Samuel Doe in Liberia and Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso, all in the 1980s. That history, placed against the perceived failure of Western-style democracy in Africa, has helped to create conditions for idolizing the likes of Traore.

Still, allegations of propaganda do not adequately explain the excitement that has built up around Africa’s youngest ruler, according to Chidi Odinkalu, an Africa analyst and professor at Tufts University.

“Traore articulates a revolutionary message that is appealing to a young population frustrated by the thievery of what passes for ‘democracy’ in their own countries,” said Odinkalu.

Source: Africanews

Lifestyle

Burkina Faso forces killed 100 civilians in March – HRW

Maravi Post Reporter

At least 100 civilians were killed by Burkina Faso government forces in March near the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch said Monday.

According to victim testimony and videos shared on social media gathered by the rights group, the attackers were Burkina Faso special forces and members of a pro-government militia, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland.

The victims were all ethnic Fulani, a pastoralist community that is widespread across the region, which the government has long accused of supporting Muslim militants.

An earlier report from Human Rights Watch stated that the government’s involvement was likely, because of video evidence on social media, although the findings were not definitive.

The government issued a sharp denial when first reports surfaced, saying in a statement it “condemned the propagation, on social media, of images inducing hate and community violence, and fake information aimed at undermining social cohesion” in the country.

“The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa’s Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Further research uncovered that Burkina Faso’s military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group. The government needs to impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible.”

Burkina Faso authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the group’s new report.

The landlocked nation of 23 million people has symbolized the security crisis in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara in recent years. It has been shaken by violence from extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, and the governments fighting them.

The military junta, which took power in 2022, failed to provide the stability it promised. According to conservative estimates, more than 60% of the country is now outside of government control, more than 2.1 million people have lost their homes and almost 6.5 million need humanitarian aid to survive.

The attack in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region, including Solenzo and other towns, began on Feb. 27 and lasted until April 2, involving hundreds of government troops and drones, according to eyewitnesses quoted in the report.

“The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run,” said a Fulani herder, 44, from Solenzo, referring to the pro-government militias.

After the attack, hundreds of Fulani residents fled across the border into neighbouring Mali, the report said.

“Today, in the whole province, there are no more Fulani — they all fled or were killed or taken hostage,” said a 53-year-old man from Solenzo. “But the other (ethnic) communities remain.”

After the government forces left, the report said that jihadist fighters from a group known as JNIM reentered the towns and carried out reprisal killings against residents, targeting the men whom it considered to be military collaborators.

“All the men had been executed in front of the health center,” said a 60-year-old woman who witnessed JNIM abuses in Tiao village, a town to the northeast of Solenzo on April 5. “I counted up to 70 bodies.”

According to analysts, the junta’s strategy of military escalation, including mass recruitment of civilians for poorly trained militia units, has exacerbated tensions between ethnic groups.

It it impossible to get an accurate picture of the situation in the country since the military leadership has installed a system of de facto censorship, rights groups said, and those daring to speak up can be openly abducted, imprisoned or forcefully drafted into the army.

Source: Africanews

Lifestyle

Putin hosts talks with African leaders on security

Maravi Post Reporter

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday hosted bilateral talks with leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traore arrived in Moscow to take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Speaking at the meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Putin suggested to exchange opinions on what Russia could do additionally to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. It comes as leaders from four major European countries threatened to ratchet up pressure on Putin if he does not accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that they offered earlier on Saturday in a strong show of unity with Kyiv.

The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland said their proposal for a ceasefire to start on Monday was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, whom they had briefed over the phone earlier in the day.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/59/08/06/ED_PYR_1459086_20250511062652.mp4