Burkina Faso Kicks Off Nationwide Initiative to Promote Responsible AI Adoption and Digital Sovereignty

Burkina Faso has officially launched a nationwide awareness and training campaign on artificial intelligence (AI) with the inauguration of the country’s first Conference on the Practical Contribution of Artificial Intelligence to the Development of Burkina Faso. The event marks a major step in the government’s effort to promote digital sovereignty and responsible AI adoption across sectors.

Organized by the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications through the Permanent Secretariat of Innovation and Awareness on Emerging Digital Technologies (SPIVTEN), the opening ceremony was co-chaired by Minister of Digital Transition Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane and Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouedraogo.

The event was held under the sponsorship of the Secretary-General of the Government and the Council of Ministers, Ousmane Ouattara, and Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Professor Adjima Thiombiano. Also in attendance were government officials, academics, and industry leaders, including Halguièta Nassa/Trawina, President of the Commission Informatique et des Libertés.

The conference serves as the launchpad for a national campaign aimed at informing, educating, and sensitizing the public on the opportunities and challenges of AI. In his remarks, Secretary-General Ousmane Ouattara emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty, warning against fragmented AI initiatives and calling for a strong ethical, legal, and institutional framework to govern AI deployment in public administration.

Minister Ouedraogo underscored the importance of using AI responsibly in the information and media sectors, advocating for technology that promotes verified, pluralistic, and ethical information. He stressed that mastering AI tools is essential to strengthening the nation’s public discourse and safeguarding democratic values.

In her keynote address, Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane highlighted that AI represents both a strategic opportunity and a sovereignty issue. She reaffirmed Burkina Faso’s commitment to integrating AI across all sectors in line with the Digital Transformation Agenda 2030, particularly the eleventh priority area, “AI at the Service of All.” She urged collective awareness and coordinated action to ensure that AI becomes a driver of socio-economic development and technological independence.

Following the opening ceremony, Dr. Tegawendé Bissyandé, Coordinator of the WURI Project, delivered the inaugural lecture. He traced the history of AI and examined its recent acceleration, particularly with platforms like ChatGPT, while discussing Burkina Faso’s progress in digital literacy, sovereignty, and resilience in the face of technological change.

The event concluded with a series of expert panels exploring the intersections of AI, communication, and governance — reinforcing Burkina Faso’s determination to harness AI for inclusive and sustainable national development.