Burkina Faso merges Media and data regulators in major reform
In a significant institutional overhaul, the Burkinabe Council of Ministers has approved a plan to merge the Superior Council for Communication (CSC) and the Data Protection Commission (CIL) into a single regulatory body.
The merger, announced on November 20, 2025, aims to create a more agile and powerful regulator for the digital age. The new entity will combine the CSC’s mandate of media content regulation with the role of CIL in protecting citizens’ personal data.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala presented the reform as essential for modernizing the state.
See also/ Burkina Faso to host Pan-African media hub in a strategic shift towards Information sovereignty
He stated it addresses the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital landscape where content and data privacy issues are increasingly intertwined. The fusion is designed to eliminate overlaps, improve policy coherence, and provide centralized oversight.
This new super-regulator will be tasked with the complex balance of upholding freedom of expression while combating disinformation and safeguarding digital rights.
The government has emphasized that the merger will also optimize resources without cutting existing jobs.
This move positions Burkina Faso to more effectively manage the critical democratic and economic issues of modern communication and data protection.
Cédric KABORE
