• A state-owned banking holding is planned for launch in 2026
• The structure will centralize and manage public shareholdings in banks
• The move follows a broader rise in state ownership across WAEMU banking

Burkina Faso plans to create a public banking holding in 2026 to hold and manage the state’s shareholdings in selected public banks. The announcement was made on February 2 by Economy Minister Aboubakar Nacanabo during the presentation of his department’s projects.

The proposed structure aims to improve the organization of banks in which the state is a shareholder, monitor their performance, and prepare potential operations such as restructurings, capital openings, or partnerships.

As of end-December 2024, Burkina Faso had 20 credit institutions, including 16 banks and four financial institutions, according to the 2024 annual report of the WAEMU Banking Commission. The state holds stakes in 11 banks, with total capital estimated at CFA62.34 billion ($111.8 million), largely concentrated in public banks. Authorities are also shareholders in three of the four financial institutions operating in the country.

By way of illustration, the state owns 100% of the capital of Banque commerciale du Burkina. In addition, in June 2025, the Burkina Faso national lottery received government approval to acquire a stake in Banque agricole du Faso, representing an investment of about $5.2 million.

The initiative reflects a broader trend within WAEMU. Between 2019 and 2023, state and public entity shareholdings in credit institutions rose from CFA300.6 billion to CFA641.9 billion. In 2023, 23 credit institutions, accounting for 21.3% of the Union’s banking assets, were majority-owned by states or public entities.

Chamberline Moko