The 15th edition of the Universités africaines de la communication de Ouagadougou (UACO) opened on October 7, 2026, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo gave the opening speech. The three-day event brings together media and communication professionals to discuss Africa's information sovereignty. This year's theme is "In a context of communication war, what attitudes and aptitudes for information and communication actors in Africa?"
The conference features panels, exchanges between media professionals, and exhibitions. Delegations from Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, and other African countries are participating. The inaugural conference was led by Cameroonian political scientist and essayist Claude Wilfried Ekanga. The event is structured around two main thematic axes, with 35 communications, according to the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo.
Minister Ouédraogo emphasized the importance of Africa producing its own information in the face of social media and artificial intelligence. He announced the launch of the first edition of the Zama d'or, a competition to valorize excellence and creativity among local professionals. The minister encouraged media actors to take on the challenge of information sovereignty, stating that the battle for Africa's sovereignty must be won on the communication front.
The event's patron, Bassolma Bazié, president of the National Commission of the AES, called on Africans to "make Africa speak for itself." He emphasized the importance of intellectual resources and warned against foreign influences on information and communication. Prime Minister Ouédraogo also stressed the need for African journalists to take responsibility for telling their own stories.
Ouédraogo highlighted the vulnerability of a people who do not produce their own information, saying that national sovereignty cannot be complete without information and communication sovereignty. The opening ceremony ended with a visit to exhibition stands, showcasing the dynamism and expertise of pan-African press enterprises.
The UACO 2026 event aims to promote African voices and perspectives in the global information landscape. Media professionals and experts are discussing ways to counter foreign influences and promote African-led communication strategies. The event provides a platform for networking and collaboration among African media professionals.
The three-day conference will conclude on October 9, 2026, with a call to action for African media professionals to take the lead in shaping the continent's information narrative. The outcome of the event is expected to contribute to the ongoing debate on Africa's information sovereignty and the role of media professionals in promoting it.
Key points
- Africa must produce its own information to achieve sovereignty.
- UACO 2026 brings together media professionals to discuss information sovereignty.
- The event aims to promote African voices and perspectives in the global information landscape.
