Burkina journalists trained on terrorism finance investigations
30 journalists learned techniques for investigating illicit trafficking and funding of terrorism in Burkina Faso and the Sahel.
30 Burkinabè journalists participated in a training workshop in Koudougou from October 27 to 30, 2026. The event, organized by the Norbert-Zongo National Press Cell (CENOZO) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focused on investigating illicit trafficking and the financing of terrorism.
The training aimed to enhance journalists' understanding of terrorism financing mechanisms in Burkina Faso and the Sahel, improve their investigative skills for illicit trades, and bolster their cybersecurity and source protection capabilities. Arnaud Ouédraogo, CENOZO coordinator, stated the goal was to equip journalists to better understand illicit economies fueling terrorist groups and to raise public awareness.
Participants learned about open-source intelligence tools, including satellite imagery analysis, and financial data collection techniques. Trainer Elza Sandrine Sawadogo emphasized the importance of identifying company ownership and real beneficiaries. Ignace Sossou covered cyberattack typologies and digital security for journalists.
Why it mattersBurkinabè journalists received training to investigate the illicit economies that fund terrorist groups, aiming to improve public awareness and inform authorities.