Ouagadougou: Participants at the closing of the 14th edition of the African Universities of Communication of Ouagadougou (UACO) formulated, on Friday, three major recommendations to strengthen the resilience of African states in the face of current geopolitical and media challenges.
According to Burkina Information Agency, faced with geopolitical, security, and information dynamics that influence stability and development, communication experts first recommended strengthening cooperation and sharing of experiences between African countries in the area of communication, in order to better respond to current challenges.
Considering that technological autonomy is essential to counter espionage and information manipulation in a context of increased geopolitical competition, the participants then recommended the promotion and appropriation of information and communication technologies to enhance identities, support the sovereign development of states, and combat disinformation.
Finally, the stakeholders recommended the integration of training modules on geopolitical issues related to communication into the programs of universities and journalism and communication schools.
For Burkina Faso's Minister of Communication, Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo, this edition highlighted the rapid transformations of the world order, the influence of geopolitical tensions on the circulation of information, as well as the strategic role of communication and digital technology in the development of nations.
According to him, the wealth of exchanges demonstrates that Africa has human, intellectual, and technological skills capable of meeting the challenges of communication in a constantly changing world. He concluded by thanking his counterparts, the Ministers of Communication of Mali, Niger, and Togo, for their presence and the quality of their contribution to the work.
The 14th edition of the UACO took place from October 1 to 3, 2025, under the theme: "Influence of the geopolitical context on communication and development in Africa." It brought together stakeholders from several African countries.