Ouagadougou, August 25, 2025 – The W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is facing intense poaching, demographic pressure, agricultural expansion, uncontrolled transhumance, and insecurity that are undermining its ecosystems and threatening local communities. These challenges have resulted in the destruction of infrastructure, loss of human lives, and a serious compromise of its conservation.
In response to this alarming situation, national administrations, site managers, and technical and financial partners have developed strategies and action plans whose effectiveness depends on strong political commitment and a shared approach to governance across the three countries.
In this context, the third statutory meeting of the Ministers in charge of the WAP protected areas is taking place on August 25, 2025, at the Lancaster Hotel in Ouagadougou. Organized with the support of the West African Savannah Foundation (FSOA), the meeting brings together Ministers from Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as the OSS, institutional partners, local authorities, community representatives, and international partners including the United Nations Office for West Africa. Before the Ministers’ meeting, a preparatory technical session was held on August 24.
The main purpose of this high-level gathering is to make joint governance of the complex fully operational, in line with the provisions of the three-party Agreement on harmonized management. Discussions are expected to cover the assessment of past commitments, the validation of technical work, the appointment of the Executive Secretary, the establishment of the Scientific Council, as well as security issues and progress made in management efforts.
Beyond these institutional decisions, this third Council of Ministers represents a renewed political will and highlights the importance of coordinated action and strengthened cooperation to safeguard this one-of-a-kind site, ensure the safety of local populations, and build sustainable governance in support of the natural and cultural heritage of the WAP.