Since 2015, Burkina Faso has faced a severe security crisis characterized by the rise of terrorism, organized crime, and communal conflicts, leading to a profound deterioration of internal security, institutional instability, and economic slowdown.
The intensification of terrorist attacks has made the country one of the most affected globally. This situation has positively influenced budgetary military expenditures in Burkina Faso between 2015 and 2024. To counter the worsening security, the Burkinabe state has significantly increased its military spending, allocating a growing portion of its national budget.
Over the past decade, the share of the budget dedicated to defense and security has risen from 6.3% to almost 30%. This increase reflects a strong commitment to strengthening the operational capabilities of the armed forces and integrating civilian-military mechanisms, such as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland VDP. This dynamic highlights the interdependence between security, political stability, and development, necessitating a reconfiguration of national priorities to ensure Burkina Faso's survival and sovereignty.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Lefaso.net.
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Silv猫re Salga, a writer and founder of the geniocratic school, suggests a new approach to reforming the African educational system, particularly in Burkina Faso. In the weekly program "Le Grand Angle," Salga presents ideas to improve and adapt teaching to social realities.
The Central Bank of West African States BCEAO has issued a warning to the public regarding the circulation of information on social media about alleged counterfeit banknotes and unrecognised identification methods. In a statement released on Friday, August 21, 2026, the central bank cautioned against the risks associated with using unvalidated authentication techniques. These methods, according to the BCEAO, can confuse users and lead to detrimental outcomes, such as accepting counterfeit notes or, conversely, unjustly rejecting authentic ones. The BCEAO advises citizens, merchants, and other currency users to rely exclusively on information published by the BCEAO, particularly in the "Banknotes and Coins" section, to learn about the genuine security features for verifying the authenticity of currency in circulation within the West African Monetary Union UMOA. The central bank reiterated that viral information is not necessarily reliable for banknote authentication. It stressed that in an environment where social media accelerates the spread of potentially erroneous content, prudence and recourse to official sources remain the best approaches. The BCEAO also stated its right to pursue legal action against those responsible for communications that could undermine public confidence in the banknotes and coins it issues.
During a seminar in Dakar on July 21-22, 2026, the Central Bank of West African States BCEAO informed economic journalists from the West African Monetary Union UMOA about the uniform law on counterfeiting and other offenses against monetary signs. Thierry Ahouanvoedo, head of the institution's Fiduciary Analysis and Production Department, highlighted that protecting currency extends beyond combating fake banknotes to include everyday actions. The law prohibits unauthorized reproduction, advertising use, marking, deliberate degradation, and charging commissions on certain banknote exchanges. Banknotes are not to be written on, drawn on, used as advertising, or treated as decorative items. Such actions can lead to sanctions as they affect the integrity and circulation of currency. The BCEAO emphasizes that any reproduction of a banknote requires prior authorization. Using banknotes for advertising without permission is also forbidden. Practices like writing phone numbers on banknotes, which can render them unfit for circulation, are discouraged as they increase costs for the central bank. The BCEAO urges the public to care for banknotes, as repeated folding, staining, marking, writing, and stapling accelerate wear. The bank also addressed the practice of charging commissions for exchanging new or small-denomination banknotes, stating that this is an undue gain and is sanctioned by regulations. Furthermore, the long-term removal of small coins from circulation, such as using the