The 21st edition of Burkina Faso's Digital Week is set to take place from November 24 to 27, 2026, at the Ouagadougou International Craft Fair site. The event's main theme is "Technological Sovereignty: Accelerating Secure and Inclusive Digital Transformation." This theme aims to address several key issues, including mastery of used technologies, infrastructure and data security, development of local solutions, and the benefits of digital technology for all Burkinabé people.
The event will feature several activities, including Conf'Days, which will provide a platform for reflection and experience sharing. Additionally, the start-up and innovation village will be dedicated to discovering and promoting entrepreneurial initiatives, particularly those based on artificial intelligence and open-source solutions. The program will also include immersive and educational experiences, such as demonstrations of humanoid and quadruped robots, allowing the public to discover robotics applications and learn programming.
According to Dr. Borlli Michel Jonas Somé, president of the organizing committee, a free training campaign on information and communication technologies (ICTs) will be launched, covering areas such as office automation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, networks, drone initiation, web and mobile development, digital commerce, and entrepreneurship. The training sessions will be offered over a period of about five weeks, with a focus on young people, women, internally displaced persons, and people with disabilities.
As part of the event, several competitions will be held to detect and reward the most relevant initiatives. These include the Digital Services to Users, Best Exhibition Stand at SITICO, Ethical Hacking, Robotics Competition, and Data Challenge Burkina. The Night of Laureates, scheduled for November 27, 2026, will honor talents and actors who contribute to the development of digital technology in Burkina Faso.
The International Exhibition of Information and Communication Technologies and Office Automation of Ouagadougou (SITICO) will also take place as part of the event. SITICO is a meeting and opportunity platform between companies, technological solution providers, operators, financial institutions, start-ups, and users. Its goal is to enable companies to present their products and services, professionals to discover available technologies, and organizations to find solutions adapted to their needs.
The 21st edition of Digital Week will bring together public administrations, companies, digital professionals, researchers, educational institutions, start-ups, partners, and the general public. According to Dr. Somé, this event has contributed to the growth of digital technology in Burkina Faso, particularly in infrastructure development and promotion of sector enterprises. The event's impact has also extended beyond national borders, inspiring several countries in the sub-region to promote their own initiatives in digital technology.
The works of this edition will be structured around four major axes: resilient infrastructure and connectivity, cybersecurity and digital trust, open innovation and local talents, and shared governance and regulation. With this event, Burkina Faso aims to accelerate its digital transformation and promote technological sovereignty.
Key points
- The 21st edition of Burkina Faso's Digital Week will focus on technological sovereignty and accelerating secure and inclusive digital transformation.
