The Dispatch | West Africa | W park

On 25 August, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Benin held the third Council of Ministers of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, moving toward full operationalization of their transboundary park agreement. Our latest Dispatch examines : The creation of a new Secretariat and Scientific Council to oversee the UNESCO-listed WAP Complex; Burkina Faso’s symbolic leadership role as host and AES bloc representative; Persistent rifts with ECOWAS-aligned Benin, highlighted by ministerial absences; Operational vulnerabilities as jihadist groups exploit weak interoperability; Implications for investors and conservation-linked projects amid heightened risk. Key takeaway: While institutional frameworks are advancing, mistrust and security gaps threaten implementation. Regional diplomacy and credible joint operations will be decisive for the WAP Complex’s stability and for external stakeholders’ confidence. Read the full Dispatch here.