Bakénon Karim Koné, an engineer in computer science and technology director at SANCFIS Faso, is being honored as part of the "100 Faces of Burkina Digital" series. With a career spanning 26 years, Koné's journey recounts a significant part of Burkina Faso's digital history, from the early days of university networks to current challenges in internet interconnection and governance. His work has contributed to the development of digital infrastructure in the country.
Koné began his professional career at the University of Ouagadougou in September 2000 as a computer technician. He worked there for nearly nine years, administering the university's computer networks, assisting users, and participating in IT projects. During this period, the internet was transforming the operations of African higher education institutions, and Koné's role was crucial in connecting laboratories, administrative services, and libraries.
In 2001, Koné participated in a workshop on free software maintenance in Lomé, and the following year, he attended the World Free Software Meetings in Bordeaux. He also received training from AfNOG and AfriNIC on IP network infrastructures in Togo. As a founding member of the Laboratoires des TIC (LABTIC), Koné promoted free software and digital skills in Burkina Faso. This experience shaped his approach to technology and its applications.
Between 2004 and 2009, Koné pursued technical training abroad, focusing on university IT infrastructures in the Netherlands, network design in Sri Lanka, and internet services in Kenya, Senegal, and Cameroon. In 2008, he completed a Cisco instructor training course in Ouagadougou. These experiences allowed him to network with other African engineers facing similar challenges and to develop solutions for stable connections, efficient bandwidth sharing, and network protection.
In September 2009, Koné joined Connecteo Burkina as a network support and operations technician. During his three-year tenure, he worked on configuring equipment, supervising networks, and managing bandwidth. He contributed to several projects, including the network infrastructure for the Centrale d'achat des médicaments essentiels génériques (CAMEG) and a VPN for the Projet d'appui aux filières agro-sylvo-pastorales (PAFASP).
In August 2012, Koné became the network support and operations manager at Sahel Finances, where he designed and implemented network architectures. His expertise has been instrumental in shaping the country's digital landscape, from university networks to telecoms and internet governance. Today, Koné continues to play a vital role in Burkina Faso's digital development.
Koné's contributions to Burkina Faso's digital infrastructure have been significant, and his experience serves as an inspiration to young professionals in the field. His dedication to developing digital skills and promoting free software has had a lasting impact on the country's technological advancement.
Key points
- Bakénon Koné has spent 26 years developing Burkina Faso's digital infrastructure, from university networks to telecoms and internet governance.
- Koné's experience with free software and digital skills has shaped his approach to technology and its applications.
- His contributions to Burkina Faso's digital infrastructure have been significant, and his experience serves as an inspiration to young professionals in the field.
