Burkina Faso is gearing up for a vibrant celebration of sport and solidarity as the second edition of the Alliance of Sahel States Games (JAES) kicks off from 7 to 16 September 2026 in Ouagadougou.
Around 540 athletes, coaches, and officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are expected in the Burkinabè capital. Organisers revealed that the delegation will include 376 athletes and 164 coaches and officials. The figures were announced on Saturday, 5 September, during a press conference at the Stade du 4-Août.
Eleven disciplines on the programme
Sportspeople from the three member states of the Confederation of Sahel States will compete in eleven disciplines: athletics, boxing, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, kung fu wushu, wrestling, taekwondo, and archery.
The events will be held at various venues across the capital, including the Stade du 4-Août, the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000, the CNOSB martial arts hall, the Centre national médico-sportif, the Boulevard Capitaine Isidore-Noël-Thomas-Sankara, and the Hamdalaye Hippodrome.
Enhanced reception and security measures
Delegations are scheduled to arrive in Ouagadougou on 5 and 6 September, with departures set for 17 September. The official opening ceremony is planned for Tuesday, 8 September, at 9:00 AM at the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000.
Authorities confirm that all competition and accommodation sites have undergone security checks and enhanced safety measures. Special arrangements have been made to facilitate the welcoming and movement of delegations, as well as to secure the perimeters of sports venues.
Sport as a vehicle for brotherhood
Under the high patronage of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, this second edition of the JAES aims to be more than just a sporting event. Organisers hope to use sport as a means of bringing the peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger closer together.
The event is also seen as an opportunity to boost economic and tourist activity in Ouagadougou while contributing to the growth of the national and sub-regional sports movement.
With the opening just hours away, the authorities are calling on the population, especially residents of Ouagadougou, to turn out in large numbers to cheer on the athletes and make these Games a true popular festival marked by fraternity and sharing.