Communication/ 15th UACO: Africa takes back control of its narratives

Who tells the story of Africa, who produces its images and who imposes the narratives that circulate on the continent? It is around these questions that the actors of information and communication are gathered in Ouagadougou for the 15th edition of the African Universities of Communication.

Opened on October 7, 2026, the work places at the center of discussions the ability of African professionals to evolve in an environment marked by disinformation, manipulation of opinion and influence strategies.

Representing the President of Faso at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo called on stakeholders in the sector to strengthen their mastery of information and communication tools.

For him, Africa must be able to tell its own story, explain its choices, and defend its interests. He also emphasized a dimension that has become central to debates on sovereignty: control of information and communication.

The president of the National Commission of the Confederation of Sahel States, Bassolma Bazié, also placed communication at the heart of current issues. He believes that information has become a major means of influence and asserts that the countries of the Confederation of Sahel States are facing campaigns aimed at shaping their image and public opinion.

Beyond the rhetoric, this 15th edition primarily aims to examine the practices of professionals. How can information be verified before it is disseminated? How can manipulation be resisted? How can content be produced that accurately reflects African realities without relying exclusively on narratives from elsewhere?

These questions are at the heart of the discussions planned during the UACO, with the participation of professionals and experts from several African countries.

The opening address was given by Cameroonian political scientist and essayist Claude Wilfried Ekanga. The discussions will continue, focusing on the transformations within the sector and the responsibility of the media in an information space that has become a major arena for influence.