AEL
The Liptako Water Agency is a Public Interest Group (GIP) established on January 31, 2011, bringing together public and private legal entities, namely the State, local authorities, and water users within the area of jurisdiction defined by Decree No. 2012-056/PRES/PM/MAHIMEF/MATDS, which determines the areas of competence of water resource management structures.
Its mission is to promote the hydrographic basin as an appropriate framework for understanding, planning, and managing water resources through coordinated actions and stakeholder consultation, in order to prepare and implement—under optimal and rational conditions—the Government’s policies and decisions in the water sector.
The Liptako Water Agency operates under the technical supervision of the Ministry in charge of Water and the financial supervision of the Ministry in charge of Finance. Its headquarters is located in Dori, the capital of the Liptako region.
The population within its jurisdiction is estimated at 2,182,343 inhabitants, representing about 10% of the Burkinabe population (RGPH 2019). The Liptako Water Agency’s Area of Competence (EC-AEL) is located in the northeastern part of Burkina Faso, and is bounded as follows:
- To the north, by the Republic of Mali;
- to the south, by the area of responsibility of the Gourma Water Agency;
- to the east, by the Republic of Niger;
- to the west, by the areas of responsibility of the Nakanbé and Mouhoun Water Agencies.
The Béli is the northernmost river in the country. It originates in the Djibo region and partly in Malian territory, and flows into the Niger River. Its length within the national territory is approximately 435.4 km. The Béli sub-basin drains the northern part of Liptako. The flow varies over time. The river is fed in the western part of its sub-basin by small tributaries such as Belbindri, Djayèl Ara Damazougria (all located in Koutougou and Arbinda); Kalembago, Kaouling, and Kossogo (in Pobé Mengao and Baraboulé); Tôboulé (in the commune of Nassoumbou), Balourél (in the commune of Djibo); and in the eastern part by tributaries such as Adiora and Sabélèmbalo in Tin-Akoff.
With a length of about 452 km, the main branch of the Gorouol River originates in the northern part of Arbinda, in the locality of Tifoukourou. It flows through the communes of Déou, Gorom-Gorom, and Falagountou, where it crosses the border. This watercourse is utilized for the construction of the Essakane Dam, which supplies water to the Essakane industrial mine. Its sub-basin, covering an area of 5,928.219 km², partially includes nine communes and contains important infrastructures such as the Yakouta Dam (26,500,000 m³), the Essakane Dam, and the ponds of Dori, Markoye, and Goungam. Two major branches can be distinguished: the Gorouol itself, which drains water from the northern part of the basin along with its tributaries Tin Taradat and Goula. The Touro Dam is built on the Goula tributary. Meanwhile, waters from the southern part are drained by the Féildégassé and its tributaries Tyékolfoulgou, Léli, Féléol, and Pétéyidé. Along the Féildégassé are located the Boulignoudi, Bombofa, and Yakouta Dams, as well as the Falagountou pond.
With an area of 1,704.30 km², the Dargol sub-basin partially covers the communes of Seytenga, Sampelga, Dori, Titabé, and Falagountou. The watercourse is 227 km long. From a hydrographic point of view, all the waters of this sub-basin flow toward the Nigerien territory.
The Faga River, approximately 971 km long, originates in the Arbinda area and flows from the northwest to the southeast. It receives water from one of its main tributaries, the Gouaya, at Koala, and continues to Liptougou, where it already stretches about 125 km. From there, it turns eastward and feeds the Takatami pond in the commune of Boundoré before emptying into the Sirba River in Niger. Along the main course of the Faga, from upstream to downstream, are located the Arbinda dam, the Nagbingou pond, the Yalgo and Liptougou dams, and the Takatami pond. On its tributary, the Gouaya, the Goèya and Dibilou dams have been built in the commune of Pissila, as well as the Tougouri and Dakiri dams in the commune of Mani. The Gouaya (tributary) receives, at Mani, the waters of the Kandare stream coming from Pibaoré. On this latter tributary (Kandare) are the Mani, Boulsa, Bonam, and Zéguédèguin dams.
