Every person living in Burkina Faso will soon be identified by a personal 12-digit electronic number. The national biometric population registration operation in the Unique Identifier Register (RIU) was officially launched this Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Ouagadougou by the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The goal is to implement a system that assigns each person a unique identifier, valid for their entire life. This number will serve as a common reference for different government agencies to simplify procedures, improve data management, and reduce the difficulties associated with the proliferation of administrative files.
To create this register, the teams will collect personal information, including names, biographical data, facial photographs, and fingerprints. This system should help avoid duplicate entries and improve the reliability of individual identification.
The Minister for Digital Transition, Aminata Zerbo/Sabané, clarified that this number will not replace the national identity card, passport, or other administrative documents. Rather, it will serve as a reference to facilitate the exchange of information between public services.
Registration will be completely free and will take place gradually in different locations across the country, through fixed centers and mobile teams. The latter will be tasked with reaching the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who have difficulty getting around.
By inviting the population to participate in this operation, the President of Faso stressed the importance of having a reliable register to improve the planning of public policies and the quality of administrative services.
The collected data will be hosted in state data centers in Burkina Faso and its management will be ensured by national engineers.
Yolande Bazié
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