• ARCEP launched DNSSEC on Burkina Faso’s national “.bf” domain on 5 December 2025.

• ICANN supported the project through the Coalition for Digital Africa and its “DNSSEC Roadshow” program.

• Burkina Faso ranked Tier 3 in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 with a score of 70.23/100.

Burkina Faso’s telecom regulator, the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), launched Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for the national “.bf” Internet domain on Friday, 5 December 2025, in Ouagadougou. The technology aims to increase the reliability and security of online services using the Burkinabe extension.

ARCEP explains that “DNSSEC is a security extension of the Domain Name System (DNS). It is a technology that adds a digital signature to DNS information to guarantee authenticity and integrity.” The project received technical support from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) through its Coalition for Digital Africa under the “DNSSEC Roadshow” program.

DNSSEC ensures that users connect to legitimate websites when accessing platforms ending in “.bf”, which reduces risks of fraud and impersonation. The “.bf” zone is now protected by an internationally recognized chain of trust. This upgrade adds a new layer of credibility to the country’s digital ecosystem.

This initiative reflects the broader goal among African governments to strengthen digital security. Beyond its technical dimension, it signals Burkina Faso’s intention to reinforce its digital sovereignty and build trust in online services at a time when cyberthreats multiply.

Burkina Faso ranked Tier 3 in 2024 in the International Telecommunication Union’s “Global Cybersecurity Index 2024”, with a score of 70.23 out of 100.

Adoni Conrad Quenum