On September 25, 2026, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, received a delegation of regulatory authorities from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The meeting focused on a cooperation agreement between the three institutions to enhance their joint actions within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The delegation was led by Dr. Pasteur Poda, President of the Regulatory Council of the Burkinabe Electronic Communications and Posts Regulatory Authority (ARCEP).
The cooperation agreement aims to establish a formal framework for reinforced cooperation between the three authorities. The regulators discussed key areas, including roaming, frequency management, and postal services. They also explored ways to harmonize their positions on major operators to protect user interests and the sovereignty of the three states. The Prime Minister encouraged the regulators to go beyond the agreement and implement concrete actions that benefit the populations.
One of the priority areas for cooperation is roaming, also known as mobile communication itinerancy. The regulators seek to ensure the effective application of commitments to allow users to fully benefit from integrated electronic communication services within the AES. Dr. Pasteur Poda emphasized the need for permanent and concerted action among the three regulators to achieve the expected benefits.
The regulators also discussed managing and controlling frequencies in border areas to improve the quality and availability of communication services. In the postal sector, they aim to strengthen collaboration to facilitate the circulation of parcels between member countries. Additionally, they plan to share expertise and experiences to enhance their intervention capacities.
The cooperation agreement is strategic, and the Prime Minister urged the regulators to make it a lever for action in favor of the populations. He emphasized the need to anticipate the challenges of protecting populations in the face of changes in the telecommunications sector. The regulators also plan to increase consultation in international forums to better defend the common interests of AES states.
The delegation included Saïdou Pona Sankaré, President of the Malian Authority for the Regulation of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Communication and Postal Services (AMRTP), and Moussa Zeinabou Seyni, Director-General of the Nigerien Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP). The regulators presented the Prime Minister with the progress of their cooperation and the prospects for coordinating their missions.
The cooperation agreement is expected to contribute to the construction of the confederal space. The Prime Minister set a goal for the regulators to make this cooperation an instrument for protecting populations, improving services, and affirming sovereignty. The regulators will work together to implement concrete actions that benefit the populations of the AES.
Key points
- The regulators aim to strengthen cooperation on roaming, frequency management, and postal services within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
- The cooperation agreement seeks to establish a formal framework for reinforced cooperation between the regulatory authorities of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
- The regulators plan to increase consultation in international forums to better defend the common interests of AES states.
