Burkina Faso Launches Project to Cover 750 White Zones by 2027

Ouahigouya, the capital of the Yaadga region, hosted the official launch workshop of the project to cover 750 white zones on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. The event was chaired by the Minister of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications, Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, and brought together regional governors, ARCEP, telecom operators, customs, religious and military authorities, as well as technical and financial partners.

The initiative is part of the government’s ambitious “zero white zone” program, which aims to be achieved by 2027. It represents a major step in closing the digital divide, expanding access to digital services, enabling wider adoption of online public services, and strengthening the digital economy.

Jointly funded by the Fund for Universal Access and Service (FASU) and the Project for Accelerating Digital Transformation (PACTDIGITAL), the project reflects the vision of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré to build a connected and inclusive Burkina Faso. While nearly 2,000 administrative villages remain without telephone coverage, FASU has already subsidized 223 sites since 2020.

The new 750-site rollout strengthens these efforts, with the government mobilizing FCFA 37.5 billion and telecom operators contributing the remaining investments to reach an estimated total of FCFA 75 billion.

“Beyond the financial and technical aspects, the success of this workshop will be primarily based on our collective ability to combine our efforts. Your role, Governors, customary authorities and religious leaders, will be crucial. It will be your turn to facilitate the acquisition of sites, raise awareness of the population, foster community membership, contribute, with the support of our Defense and Security Forces, to secure facilities in areas that are still vulnerable.”

– Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications, Burkina Faso

The exchanges during the event allowed participants to reaffirm their support. Regional governors pledged to actively facilitate implementation at the local level.

With 750 additional towns expected to gain coverage by the end of 2026, Burkina Faso is advancing towards its “zero white zone” goal. The project illustrates the government’s determination to position digital infrastructure as a driver of development, a modernization tool for public administration, and a factor of social cohesion.