Burkina Faso’s capital is set to pulse with athletic energy and regional camaraderie as it hosts the second edition of the Sahel Alliance States Games (JAES) from 7 to 16 September 2026.
Nearly 540 competitors, coaches, and officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are expected in Ouagadougou for the event. Organisers revealed on Saturday, 5 September, during a press conference at the Stade du 4-Août that the delegation comprises 376 athletes and 164 support staff.
Eleven sports on the roster
Athletes from the three member states of the Sahel States Confederation will compete across eleven disciplines: athletics, boxing, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, kung-fu wushu, wrestling, taekwondo, and archery.
Competitions are scheduled at various venues across the city, including the Stade du 4-Août, the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000, the CNOSB martial arts hall, the National Sports Medicine Centre, along Boulevard Capitaine Isidore-Noël-Thomas-Sankara, and the Hamdalaye Hippodrome.
Enhanced welcome and security measures
Delegations are due to arrive in Ouagadougou on 5 and 6 September, with departures planned for 17 September. The official opening ceremony is set 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 thorough security checks. Special arrangements have been made to streamline the reception and movement of delegations, alongside heightened security around sports venues.
Sport as a bridge for brotherhood
Under the high patronage of Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, this second JAES edition aims to transcend mere athletic competition. Organisers envision sport as a tool to foster closer ties among the peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The event is also seen as a catalyst for boosting economic and tourism activity in Ouagadougou, while nurturing the growth of national and sub-regional sports movements.
With the kick-off just hours away, authorities are urging the public, especially residents of Ouagadougou, to turn out in force to cheer on the athletes, transforming the Games into a vibrant popular celebration of unity and solidarity.
