Image above: Soumoubienkô Roland KI, journalist and accredited communications expert, receiving his prize from Igor Alexandrovitch MARTYNOV, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Burkina Faso.
As part of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, a journalistic competition was organized by African Initiative in collaboration with the Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso. The outcome of this journalistic competition rewarded the best journalists, including the online site NetAfrique represented by Soumoubienko Roland KI, journalists Boukary Bonkoungou of the state-owned Sidwaya press, Boukaré Ouédraogo of AIB and Kevine Zoungrana of Afrik infos.
The Russian ambassador to Burkina Faso, Igor Alexandrovitch Martynov, urged the winning journalists to continue producing press articles that highlight Russian-Burkinabè relations, in close collaboration with the embassy of the Russian Federation.
The awards were presented at a solemn ceremony in Ouagadougou on Saturday May 24, 2025, by Russian ambassador SEM Igor Alexandrovitch MARTYNOV, in the presence of members of the African Initiative represented by its president AYO Soumaïla.
Bringing the Burkinabe and Russian peoples closer together through better integration of the two peoples with a view to boosting Russian-Burkinabe relations. This is the main objective of the partnership between the Burkinabe civil society organization African Initiative and the Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso.
With this in mind, and to mark the first commemoration of the Soviet victory over German Nazism in Burkina Faso, a journalistic competition was organized to distinguish the journalists who produced the best journalistic works. The deliberation of this contest was an opportunity to recognize the merits of four Burkinabe media professionals. In addition to Soumoubienkô Roland KI of the NetAfrique website, winner of the grand prize, Boukary Bonkoungou of the Burkinabè state press Sidwaya, and Boukaré Ouédraogo of the French news agency Agence de la Presse, were other winners.
Ouédraogo of the Burkina news agency, and Afrik infos journalist Kevine Zoungrana.
A year dedicated to the defense of the homeland, according to the ambassador
Representatives of the winning media (Sidwaya, AIB, NetAfrique and Afrik Infos) posed for posterity at the end of the competition for the best journalistic productions on the great Soviet victory over German fascism.
For Russian ambassador SEM Igor Alexandrovitch MARTYNOV, the journalistic competition was organized as part of the commemoration of the 80th year of the great Soviet victory over German Nazism.
The Russian diplomat went on to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared this year a year of defense of the homeland. “If we look closely, the defense of the homeland also concerns Burkina Faso,” he continued. We wanted to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory marking the end of the Second World War by laying a wreath in memory of the victims of the war for freedom against the colonial terrorists in Burkina Faso. Also we took pause to pay tribute to our allies in the war against German fascism.
We have organized a journalistic production competition as part of this, as well as a drawing competition for schoolchildren. The winners are invited, especially journalists, to continue producing press articles in close collaboration with the embassy. We also encourage them to help the Embassy to communicate efficiently with the Russian Embassy,” stressed HEM Igor Alexandrovitch MARTYNOV. The Russian diplomat praised the initiative taken by African Initiative.
Soumaïla AYO, President of African Initiative, said that by organizing these competitions for journalists and students, the aim was to detect talent and put it to use in the service of Russian-Burkinabe cooperation, which aims to be a springboard for the integration of the two peoples, Russia and Burkina Faso. “As we say, there’s no such thing as neutrality in journalism. We expect our journalists to be committed to promoting cooperation between our two countries, Russia and Burkina Faso,” he said.
Image above: Soumaïla AYO, President of the African Initiative, said that the aim of this Russian-Burkinabe relationship was to emphasize the integration of the two peoples.
Sidwaya prizewinner Boukary Bonkoungou expressed his gratitude to the editorial staff for his journalistic production, which consisted of an interview on the great and patriotic Soviet victory of 1941 to 1945. For him, the award was the result of the collective work of the editorial staff. He indicated that the fact of magnifying Russian-Burkinabè relations is a commendable thing. He encouraged African Initiative and the Russian embassy to pursue these kinds of initiatives, which boost cooperation between the two countries. “I wasn’t expecting this prize. It’s the hard work that has paid off. So I thank the Lord and my entire editorial team,” confided Boukary Bonkoungou.
An invitation to do better
Image above: High school students and colleagues also honored
It is with great humility and gratitude that I receive this distinction, awarded following the competition for journalistic productions. I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers, African Initiative and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Burkina Faso. I welcome this recognition as an invitation to do better, and to further develop the vast field of international relations between Russia and Burkina Faso.
More than a diplomatic relationship, these relations, in view of the initiatives taken, are aimed at integrating the two peoples of Russia and Burkina Faso. We welcome these long-standing relations between our two countries. This is part of the diversification of Burkina Faso’s partnerships in the best interests of our two friendly peoples. As a media company, we intend to play our part, however modestly. We encourage such initiatives, which enable us to strengthen our ties between friendly peoples,” confided Soumoubienkô Roland KI.
Djibrill Zo, in charge of school life at the Lycée Municipal Nioko I in Saaba, accompanied the winning students in a drawing from his school
As a reminder, in addition to certificates of participation, each winner received a smartphone and a large-capacity power bank. The grand prize also included a television set.
In addition to the journalistic competition, there was also a drawing competition for secondary school pupils. Several prizes were awarded to the winning students. Djibrill Zo, school life attaché at the Lycée Municipal de Nioko I, praised the initiative of this drawing competition for pupils. “Without any training in the subject, 4 students from the Lycée Municipal de Nioko 1 won prizes. It’s true that these prizes are modest, consisting of notebooks and certificates, but we’ll be taking steps to ensure that in future years the pupils take part en masse.
We would like to thank the organizers for their efforts in this first edition. Vive l’amitié entre nos deux peuples” (Long live the friendship between our two peoples), said the school life attaché at the Lycée Municipal de Nioko 1 in the commune of Saaba. The students’ prizes consisted of school supplies, jerseys and balls. A date was set for future editions of the competitions, which will be even more popular, again under the banner of the Russian Embassy and African Initiative.