Thursday, 24 April 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya are received at Bamako airport by the President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré. Gary Otte

Yesterday, Mawlana Hazar Imam began his Golden Jubilee visit to West Africa in Bamako, Mali, accompanied by Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya.

In a full ceremonial welcome, which included a guard of honour and a rendering of the Nashid al-Imamah and the Malian National Anthem, Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family were received at the airport by the President of the Republic, Amadou Toumani Touré, senior government ministers and representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network.

Their visit to Mali will include stops in Mopti, Timbuktu and Bamako, and the inauguration of several projects of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. They will later visit Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to meet with the respective heads of state and government leaders, and to review the work of the Aga Khan Development Network in the region.

Saturday, 26 April 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam bids farewell to AKDN staff in Mali, upon his departure from Bamako airport. Gary Otte

Mawlana Hazar Imam continues his Golden Jubilee visit to West Africa as he departs Mali for Burkina Faso today.

While in Mali, Mawlana Hazar Imam was awarded the Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali – the country's highest honour – by Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré at a state dinner held in Hazar Imam's honour on Wednesday, 23 April.

The next morning, Mawlana Hazar Imam, accompanied by Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya, visited Mopti, where he was welcomed by President Touré. Later in the afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam travelled to Timbuktu, before returning to Bamako in the evening. In Mopti, the two leaders officiated over the inauguration of the Komoguel I Mosque (also known as the Great Mosque of Mopti) which had been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. President Touré paid great tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam and thanked him on behalf of the people of Mali.

In Timbuktu, Mawlana Hazar Imam was awarded an honorary degree Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Sankoré as well as an Honorary Citizenship to the Community of Timbuktu by the Imam of the Djingarey Ber Mosque and other local leaders. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture has plans to restore the mosque.

On Friday, 25 April, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim met with several government ministers during the course of the morning. In the afternoon, President Touré again accompanied Mawlana Hazar Imam to the inauguration ceremony for the Bamako Park – an initiative described by Mawlana Hazar Imam as totally unique and essential. President Touré described the project as one that would not only benefit the people of Bamako, but all of Mali.

In the evening, Mawlana Hazar Imam hosted a Diplomatic Reception for members of the diplomatic corps, international organisations and senior government officials in Mali.

Today, Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by President Touré as he prepared to depart Mali. The ceremonial farewell included a full military guard of honour, renditions of the Malian National Anthem and the Nashid al-Imamah, and a farewell from the Prime Minister and numerous government ministers.

Monday, 28 April 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam spends a moment with AKDN staff and volunteers from the Jamat of Burkina Faso, prior to departing the country. Arnhel de Serra

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Burkina Faso on Saturday, 26 April to a full ceremonial welcome, including a guard of honour and renditions of the Nashid al-Imamah and the Burkina Faso National Anthem. Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya were greeted at Ouagadougou airport by Prime Minister Tertius Zongo, senior government ministers and representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network.

During his visit, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim had meetings with President Blaise Compaoré and government ministers to review the work of the Aga Khan Development Network in Burkina Faso.

Mawlana Hazar Imam also opened a seminar in Ouagadougou held to celebrate national recipients of the Aga Khan Award of Architecture. Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya also participated at the seminar, which was organised by the Burkinabé Ministry of Culture and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

On Sunday, 27 April, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim travelled to visit the Sosuco sugar plant in Banfora, which is owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.

Thursday, 1 May 2008

The Jamat of Abidjan waves goodbye to Mawlana Hazar Imam as his plane departs Côte d'Ivoire from Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport. Courtesy AKDN West Africa

Mawlana Hazar Imam departed Côte d'Ivoire this morning for Senegal, the last leg of his Golden Jubilee visit to West Africa. The Minister for Foreign Affairs for Côte d'Ivoire, Youssouf Bakayoko and Minister of State for Planning and Development, Paul Antoine Bohoun Bouabré accompanied Mawlana Hazar Imam to the airport. The Jamat of Abidjan also came to the airport to wish Hazar Imam “bon voyage”.

During his visit to Côte d'Ivoire, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim met with President Laurent Gbagbo and government ministers to review the work of AKDN in the country. President Gbagbo also hosted a dinner in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Presidential Palace. In his address at the dinner, President Gbagbo paid tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam's long standing support for Côte d'Ivoire. Mawlana Hazar Imam thanked the President and talked about the expansion of AKDN's activities beyond the realm of economic development, to include social and cultural initiatives.

Mawlana Hazar Imam presided over the signing ceremony to establish the Première Agence de Microfinance in Côte d'Ivoire. This new unit of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance joins a larger family which includes units in Mali and Burkina Faso that were launched in 2006.

Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim also visited Filtisac Côte d'Ivoire – a manufacturer of jute, polypropylene and polyethylene bags for the agricultural trade. Filtisac is one of the oldest entities of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the region, and Mawlana Hazar Imam was present at its opening in 1965.

Friday, 2 May 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam is greeted by His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal. Gary Otte

Mawlana Hazar Imam concluded his Golden Jubilee visit to West Africa with a final stop in Senegal on 1 May 2008.

Arriving in Dakar in the morning, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade at the Presidential Palace. Later, President Wade hosted a luncheon for Mawlana Hazar Imam.

After an eventful and productive Golden Jubilee tour of the West African countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, Mawlana Hazar Imam departed from Dakar in the afternoon.

Further details, including press releases, Mawlana Hazar Imam's speeches and photographs are available on the AKDN website.