Ouagadougou: The Minister in charge of Communication, Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo, delivered a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo during the opening of the 14th edition of the African Universities of Communication of Ouagadougou (UACO). He emphasized the dual role of communication as both a tool of domination and an instrument of liberation.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Prime Minister’s message, read by Minister Ouedraogo, highlighted that communication is never neutral and serves as a strategic lever capable of transforming societies. It holds the power to manipulate as well as enlighten and mobilize people towards emancipation. The 14th edition of UACO 2025, held under the theme “Influence of the geopolitical context on communication and development in Africa,” serves as a platform for media and communication actors from Africa and beyond.
Minister Ouedraogo further noted that UACO provides a valuable opportunity for reflection on the significant changes affecting societies and the central role communication plays in governance, development, and peacebuilding. The theme for the 2025 edition aims to explore critical issues such as the evolution of digital technologies, information sovereignty challenges, and the role of media amid security crises, with a focus on enhancing cooperation among African nations.
He elaborated on how geopolitical tensions, the reconfiguration of international alliances, the rise of new technologies and social networks, alongside economic and security crises, affect societies and communication practices. Understanding these issues and sharing experiences are vital for building a sovereign, informed, and resilient Africa.
Minister Ouedraogo called on experts, professionals, and academics to utilize UACO as a laboratory for ideas and a space for constructive dialogue, producing analyses and recommendations to guide policies in a complex geopolitical environment. Minister of Digital Transition, Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, highlighted the necessity for African states to rethink communication strategies to combat disinformation and promote positive national images on the international stage.
Minister of State and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Brigadier General Celestin Simpore, represented the Prime Minister at the event, which was attended by Communication Ministers from Niger, Mali, and Togo, alongside special guest Franklin N’yamsi, Associate Professor of Philosophy in Cameroon. Alhamdou Ag ILYENE, Mali’s Minister of Communication, Digital Economy, and Modernization of the Administration, emphasized the importance of asserting African sovereignty through communication and promoting African identities globally.