Burkina Faso: Citizen watch, a bulwark against disinformation and destabilization
In Burkina Faso, the National Coordination of Citizen Watch Associations (CNAVC) embodies a new form of citizen participation in governance. Born in a context of security crisis and political recomposition, this structure is gradually establishing itself as a player in the defense of institutions, the fight against disinformation and the support of public policies.
The CNAVC has become known for its commitment to defending institutions in the face of attempts at destabilization. After the foiled coup attempt on 9 January 2026, the coordination organized a press conference to reaffirm its support for President Ibrahim Traoré and condemn any undertaking aimed at state security.
This posture has resulted in popular mobilizations, such as the large meeting of January 28, 2026, in Ouagadougou, aimed at materializing support for the ideals of the Popular Progressive Revolution and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Faced with the multiplication of disinformation campaigns, CNAVC has made communication warfare a strategic axis. The AES Confederal Forum of Citizen Monitoring Organizations, held on January 25 and 27, 2026 in Ouagadougou, focused on the role of citizen monitoring in the defense of sovereignty in the face of disinformation.
This forum led to the structuring of a confederal network, with the adoption of a roadmap and the establishment of a « collective citizen intelligence » at the service of the ESA States.
Beyond security, the CNAVC is involved in concrete development actions. In the Houet region, the local section has carried out more than 70 awareness-raising, training, social actions and citizen mobilization activities in six months.
Sanitation operations have been carried out in Sanaba and Bobo-Dioulasso, mobilizing young people to fight against breeding sites and prevent malaria and dengue fever. In Dédougou, members of the CNAVC participated in the manufacture of paving stones as part of the Faso Mêbo project.
The CNAVC also provides material and moral support to the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). In Banzon, in the Kénédougou region, the coordination handed out raincoats, jerseys and balls to the VDP and the youth, strengthening social cohesion.
These initiatives reflect a vision where national security is based on the direct involvement of citizens, alongside the defense and security forces.
CNAVC represents an original political innovation, where citizens become direct actors in governance. Its action is based on three pillars: the defense of institutions, the fight against disinformation and the support of public policies.
However, this model raises questions about the autonomy of civil society and the diversity of opinions. The consolidation of citizen monitoring must guarantee a space for pluralist dialogue, a condition for truly participatory governance.
With the structuring of a confederal network within the AES, the CNAVC aims to extend its influence beyond the borders of Burkina Faso. This dynamic testifies to a desire to make popular participation a lever for sovereignty and development.
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