Burkina Faso signed regional roaming agreements on Friday, 23 October 2026, during a ceremony held in Ouagadougou. The ARCEP of Burkina Faso concluded these accords with the respective regulatory authorities of Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sénégal. These agreements aim to establish standardized communication protocols across the participating nations. Officials finalized the legal framework to facilitate cross-border mobile connectivity for users traveling between these countries. Representatives from each regulatory body participated in the signing proceedings to confirm the new cooperative measures.
The formalization of these agreements marks a significant step in the telecommunications sector for the participating nations. By establishing these standardized protocols, the regulatory authorities intend to remove existing obstacles that currently impede smooth mobile usage for citizens crossing borders between Burkina Faso, Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sénégal. The signing ceremony in Ouagadougou served as the official platform for the representatives to validate the technical and legal requirements necessary for the implementation of these cross-border communication standards.
Regional Regulatory Cooperation Efforts
Participants completed the signing of these regional roaming agreements at the conclusion of the second session of the Committee of National Digital Regulators of UEMOA member states. This gathering brought together regional authorities to align digital infrastructure policies under the oversight of the UEMOA Commission. The second session of the Committee of National Digital Regulators provided a structured environment for the representatives to deliberate on the specific technical requirements of the roaming accords. By finalizing the agreements during this committee session, the regulatory bodies ensured that the new protocols are synchronized with the broader regional objectives managed by the UEMOA Commission.
Mamadú Serifo Jaquité, Commissioner for Human Development at the UEMOA Commission, stated: "Cette cérémonie traduit notre volonté commune de faire de l’intégration régionale une réalité concrète dans la vie quotidienne de nos populations." (This ceremony translates our common will to make regional integration a concrete reality in the daily lives of our populations.)
The finalized agreements operate as a component of the UEMOA Commission’s IMPACT 2030 strategic plan. This broader roadmap identifies digital connectivity as a primary objective for member states to improve communication access across borders. Officials intend for the measures to shift mobile roaming protocols toward a unified standard, aligning with the long-term infrastructure goals established by the UEMOA Commission. By integrating these roaming protocols into the IMPACT 2030 framework, the participating countries aim to reduce technical barriers for mobile users traveling within the member states.
The inclusion of these roaming agreements within the IMPACT 2030 strategic plan shows the commitment of the UEMOA Commission to prioritize digital integration. As the regulatory authorities of Burkina Faso, Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sénégal move forward with the implementation of these measures, the focus remains on ensuring that the infrastructure supports the connectivity goals outlined in the strategic plan. This collaborative approach is designed to facilitate a more cohesive digital environment, allowing for consistent communication services that transcend national boundaries, consistent with the objectives established by the UEMOA Commission for the coming years.
