Burkina Faso rolls out new biometric database to identify citizens

Burkina Faso embarks on a nationwide biometric identity registration

Burkina Faso has launched a nationwide registration drive to assign citizens a unique 12-digit electronic identification number, deepening the country’s digital identity programme nearly a year after the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) introduced a shared biometric identity card for its members.

• Burkina Faso has begun nationwide registration to assign citizens a unique 12-digit electronic identification number.
• President Ibrahim Traoré was the first to be enrolled, signaling the official launch of the initiative.
• The programme complements the shared AES biometric identity card but is a separate national project.
• Registration is free and will use mobile teams to reach vulnerable populations such as the displaced, elderly, and disabled.

President Ibrahim Traoré became the first person enrolled in the new system on Wednesday, November 11, marking the start of a mass registration exercise that the government says will help modernise public administration and strengthen the country’s control over identity data.

According to Burkina Faso’s state news agency, AIB, the government plans to deploy 966 registration kits progressively across the country.

Enrolment is free, with mobile teams also expected to reach internally displaced people, older citizens and people with disabilities.

Burkina Faso builds on AES identity integration drive

The rollout follows the introduction of the AES shared biometric identity card, which was first launched in Burkina Faso in December 2025, with President Ibrahim Traoré becoming its first recipient. Niger followed in March 2026, when President Abdourahamane Tiani became the first Nigerien to be enrolled and issued the document

Niger’s transitional leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, undergoes biometric registration for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) passport, marking the launch of the bloc’s common travel document system in July 2026. Photo: Niger’s official state press services / Presidency of Niger.

The document was introduced as part of efforts by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to harmonise identity systems, facilitate movement between member states and strengthen regional security and economic exchanges.

However, the new electronic identifier is a separate national initiative, rather than a replacement for the shared AES card.

Each person registered in Burkina Faso’s new system will receive a permanent 12-digit number that will serve as a common reference across government institutions. The registration process captures biographical and biometric information, including facial images, all 10 fingerprints and both irises, to prevent duplicate identities.

The identifier will not replace existing national identity cards or passports. Instead, it is designed to help public institutions verify individuals through a shared national database.

The government says the information will be stored in data centres in Burkina Faso and managed by Burkinabè engineers, presenting the project as part of its broader digital sovereignty agenda.

The two initiatives reflect the AES governments’ parallel push to build identity infrastructure at national and regional levels.

While the shared card is intended to support integration across the three countries, Burkina Faso’s electronic register is designed to improve how its own institutions identify citizens and manage public services.

Credit: Business Insider Africa