Burkina Faso may demand real estate commitment from operators

Burkina Faso’s military government has introduced a new decree that would force certain companies to build their headquarters inside the country. The measure is framed as a way to root key businesses more firmly in the local economy.

The rules could extend to mobile network operators, which currently often run local operations from regional hubs abroad. If applied to telecoms, the decree would require operators to commit capital to local real estate and physical offices, adding cost but also potentially increasing their long-term presence and oversight in Burkina Faso.