Burkina Faso: A regulatory leap towards an inclusive digital economy
Over the past fifteen years, Africa has undergone a rapid digital transformation, driven by the growth of telecommunications and information technologies. However, this momentum has often been hindered by inadequate regulations, limiting the sector’s economic impact. Today, Burkina Faso stands out as one of the most advanced African countries in this field.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Burkina Faso and Senegal joined the G3 category in 2024, marking a high level of regulatory maturity in ICT and digital governance. This ranking places these countries alongside several nations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, bringing them closer to the G4 level, which represents fully integrated regulation aligned with development goals.
The ITU’s G5 Benchmark framework assesses 193 countries based on 70 indicators grouped into four pillars: collaborative governance, public policy, digital development tools, and economic strategy.
Between 2023 and 2024, many African countries made significant progress, spurred in part by lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, which exposed systemic weaknesses, particularly in spectrum management and digital taxation. As a result, most countries previously ranked G1 or G2 moved up to G3. Only three countries remain at a low level of maturity.
Despite these advances, Africa still falls short of the ITU’s ambitions, which aim for most countries to reach the G4 level. To achieve this, it is essential to strengthen institutional capacities, promote effective regional cooperation, and implement inclusive digital policies, ensuring that the digital revolution benefits all segments of the population.
