OUAGADOUGOU — Burkina Faso’s second National Week for the Fight Against Cybercrime (SNLC) launched Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, in Ouagadougou, with the aim of strengthening prevention and collective vigilance against digital threats.
Organized from Oct. 26 to 30 by the Ministry of Security through the Central Brigade for the Fight Against Cybercrime (BCLCC), this edition is built around the theme: “Cybercrime and Emerging Digital Threats: From Click to Crime.” The title underscores how quickly a simple online action can turn into an offense with serious consequences.
In his address, General Simporé welcomed the contributions of digital technology to economic development, the modernization of public administration and social inclusion.
He nevertheless stressed the worrying rise in technology-related offenses, whose effects are felt in household finances as well as those of businesses and public services.
The figures presented illustrate the scale of the phenomenon. The number of cybercrime cases recorded in Burkina Faso rose from 556 in 2020 to 6,288 in 2025 more than an elevenfold increase in five years.
Financial losses linked to these offenses reached 1.7 billion CFA francs in 2025, revealing the urgency of a coordinated and effective response.
The opening ceremony, held under the high patronage of Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, was presided over by Minister of State, Minister of War and Patriotic Defense, Major General Célestin Simporé.
It brought together Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, President of the special delegation of the commune of Ouagadougou Maurice Konaté, and several administrative officials and digital sector actors.
Beyond online scams, authorities also warned about the use of digital platforms for disinformation, the spread of hate speech and the inflaming of community tensions.
According to the minister of state, these practices pose a direct threat to social cohesion, peace and national security.
The national week therefore aims to mobilize all actors; the state, businesses, media, schools and citizens around a culture of cyber-prudence. The goal is clear: to enable Burkina Faso to fully benefit from digital opportunities while building a safer, more reliable and better-protected cyberspace.
Souley Diatta
