Burkina Faso has progressed with its ‘Smart Burkina‘ initiative, a comprehensive surveillance project developed in collaboration with Chinese firms to install 900 surveillance cameras across the country.
The ‘Smart Burkina’ project also encompasses the deployment of an 800-kilometer optical fiber network to interconnect cities and support the surveillance infrastructure.
The ‘Smart Burkina’ project is being implemented by Chinese technology giants Huawei and China International Telecommunication Construction Corporation (CITCC), with funding provided through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. The total investment is estimated at approximately 52 billion CFA francs ($94 million).
Launched in July 2021, the ‘Smart Burkina’ project aims to enhance public safety by installing 900 surveillance cameras across key urban areas, including 220 locations in the capital, Ouagadougou, and 80 in the second-largest city, Bobo-Dioulasso.
In April 2025, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Security, accompanied by a delegation from the Chinese embassy, visited the Command Center overseeing the surveillance network, underscoring the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in enhancing security infrastructure.
The ‘Smart Burkina’ initiative reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to address security challenges and improve public services. By integrating advanced surveillance systems, Burkina Faso aims to strengthen its capacity to monitor and respond to security threats effectively, with the insurgence of Islamist terrorism.
