The 15th edition of the Universities of African Communication of Ouagadougou (UACO) kicked off on October 7, 2026, at the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The three-day event brings together professionals from various African countries to discuss the challenges of information sovereignty and the fight against disinformation. The theme of this edition is "In a context of communication war, what attitudes and aptitudes for information and communication actors in Africa?"
The event was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, who represented the President of Faso. He emphasized that Africa can no longer afford to have its narrative dictated by others, stressing that the continent must learn to tell its own story, explain its choices, and defend its interests. According to him, a people who do not control their narrative are vulnerable.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that sovereignty is not limited to the political, economic, or military domains but must also extend to the information and communication sectors. He noted that in today's world, information has become a significant lever of power and that African states' sovereignty must also be information-based. This position was shared by Bassolma Bazié, president of the National Commission of the Confederation of Sahel States.
Bazié stated that information and communication have become essential tools for the functioning of societies but can also be used as instruments of confrontation. He denounced practices of denigration, disinformation, manipulation, and intoxication, particularly against the Confederation of Sahel States. The Minister of Communication and President of the UACO, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, called on media professionals to take their part in this communication battle.
Ouédraogo emphasized that governments have their responsibilities, but journalists and communicators must also reflect on their attitudes and positioning in the current context. He assured that the Burkinabè government is committed to accompanying media actors in a participatory approach to collectively find responses to the communication challenges facing the country and the Sahel region.
The event features 35 communications, with the participation of several African universities and institutions. The discussions aim to confront experiences and reflect on the skills that information and communication professionals need to evolve in an environment marked by the multiplication of channels, rapid circulation of content, and information offensives.
The UACO 2026 edition seeks to be a space for reflection and awareness-raising, where participants can share their experiences and build a narrative driven by Africans. The event will run until October 9, 2026, and will focus on defining the African narrative, mastering information, and producing and disseminating African stories.
Key points
- The 15th UACO edition focuses on information sovereignty and the fight against disinformation in Africa.
- African countries must learn to tell their own story and defend their interests in the face of communication wars.
- The event brings together media professionals, researchers, and communicators to discuss the challenges and opportunities of information sovereignty in Africa.
