Mariama Hamani
Behind the spotlight: technology overshadows national crises
As Ouagadougou’s National Days of Patriotic Commitment glow with official festivities, the transitional government showcases its flagship digital initiatives. From online judicial records to virtual universal healthcare registration, these tools project an image of a forward-thinking, connected state. Yet behind the polished announcements, Burkina Faso’s most pressing struggles remain dangerously neglected.
This rapid push toward digital administration appears less like progress and more like a misplaced priority—one that amplifies urban elite advantages while ignoring the nation’s crumbling foundations.
When progress leaves millions behind
The promise of digital services such as online national ID certificates and electronic court records sounds impressive in policy speeches. But the reality is stark: internet penetration hovers below 20%, with 4G access largely confined to major cities. Calling a 1.3% online healthcare registration rate a success is not just misleading—it’s a failure of leadership.
Digitalization has become a two-tiered system:
- Urban elites with smartphones and reliable connectivity navigate government platforms with ease.
- Rural and low-income citizens remain locked out—cut off from basic services and isolated by a widening digital divide.
The foundation before the facade: two urgent priorities
Digital transformation cannot succeed without two fundamental prerequisites. Without these, every online service is built on sand.
1. Security: the bedrock of state legitimacy
Over two million internally displaced persons have fled violence driven by terrorism. For these families, the pressing need is not to access birth certificates from a mobile app—it is to live in safety, reclaim their homes, and participate in civic life without fear.
Digital administration cannot function where:
- Roads and infrastructure are controlled or destroyed by armed groups.
- Telecom towers are sabotaged or inaccessible.
- People risk their lives just to attend a market or school.
Restoring security isn’t just a political goal—it’s the prerequisite for any functioning state, digital or otherwise.
2. Education: the gateway to inclusion
Even if security were restored overnight, digital services would still be inaccessible to millions. Why? Because nearly half of Burkina Faso’s adult population cannot read or write. Illiteracy—combined with limited device access—creates a deep illiterate-tech gap.
Thousands of schools remain closed due to conflict. Yet public funds continue to flow into high-tech platforms while children sit without teachers, desks, or hope for a future.
You cannot teach digital literacy to students who aren’t in class. And you cannot build a digital society on a foundation of illiterate citizens.
From showpiece to service: reordering national priorities
The path to meaningful digitalization is not about launching flashy apps—it’s about rebuilding from the ground up.
First comes security: protecting lives, securing territory, and restoring freedom of movement. Only then can schools reopen and communities rebuild.
Next comes education: a nationwide literacy and skills campaign to prepare citizens for participation in the digital age.
Only when these pillars stand strong can digital public services truly reach everyone—not just the connected few.
The government must pivot from showcasing technological progress to addressing the real emergencies: peace, protection, and learning. Without these, its digital dreams will remain just that—dreams.
Boureima Amadou
