Dr. Rodrique Kafando, a Burkinabé expert in artificial intelligence, has dedicated his career to developing AI solutions that address local challenges. With a background in telecommunications engineering, he pursued further education in intelligent systems at the Institut francophone international in Vietnam and France. His academic journey culminated in a master's degree in 2018 and a Ph.D. in computer science with a focus on data science and artificial intelligence from the University of Montpellier in 2021.
Upon returning to Burkina Faso, Dr. Kafando joined the Centre d'Excellence en Intelligence Artificielle (CITADEL) as a research scientist. His primary objective is to develop AI solutions that cater to local realities and train local talent to drive technological autonomy. Since 2022, he has contributed to the training and mentoring of over 70 engineers in AI. At the Université Virtuelle du Burkina Faso, he teaches courses on machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.
Dr. Kafando's research focuses on transforming data into actionable knowledge, with publications on smart cities, big data, urban pollution, and biomedical data. His work emphasizes the importance of developing AI solutions that account for local contexts and languages. By doing so, he aims to bridge the gap between AI development and local needs, ensuring that AI systems are adapted to African realities.
The CITADEL team, under Dr. Kafando's collaboration, adopts a methodical approach to identify real-world problems, convert them into research topics, and develop proof-of-concept solutions. To date, the team has developed over 15 AI solutions and published more than 20 scientific papers. This approach enables the creation of AI systems that are tailored to local challenges and can be effectively implemented by local stakeholders.
Dr. Kafando's expertise extends to policy-making, as he has been an expert at the SP-IVTEN, attached to the Ministry of Digital Transition, since April 2025. He contributed to the development of Burkina Faso's National Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence (2026-2030) and the Guidelines for Ethical, Inclusive, and Responsible AI in Francophone Africa.
Dr. Kafando advocates for responsible and sovereign AI development, emphasizing the need for local control over data and AI systems. He believes that by leveraging open-source AI models, Burkina Faso and other African countries can harness AI as a tool for local development while maintaining data sovereignty. This vision underlines the importance of training local talent to design and implement AI solutions that address specific African challenges.
Dr. Kafando's commitment to developing AI in Burkina Faso has earned him recognition as one of the 100 faces of Burkina Digital. His work embodies the intersection of research, education, and public policy, showcasing the potential for African innovation in AI. By contributing to the development of local AI expertise, Dr. Kafando is helping to ensure that Africa plays an active role in shaping its AI future.
Key points
- Dr. Rodrique Kafando returns to Burkina Faso to develop AI solutions tailored to local realities and train the next generation of African AI experts.
