Burkina Faso road safety report shows slight improvement, yet tragedy persists
The Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Security (MATDS) released road accident statistics for December 2025 on Friday, January 16, 2026. While the data indicates a slight positive trend, the figures remain alarming and underscore the need for continued vigilance among all road users in Burkina Faso.
A comparison with December 2024 shows a decrease in the total number of accidents, from 2,173 to 1,930.
This modest decline may reflect the positive impact of awareness campaigns or enhanced traffic controls. However, the human cost remains unacceptably high.
The number of injured persons actually increased, from 1,464 to 1,508, while fatalities remained tragically elevated, with 91 lives lost last December compared to 96 the previous year.
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Published on the ministry’s official platform, these numbers present a stark reality: each accident represents a shattered family, lost potential, and immense suffering.
The slight reduction in accidents should not lead to complacency, but rather sharpen focus on the severity of those that still occur.
Behind these statistics lie often-preventable behaviors: excessive speed, distracted driving (notably phone use), driving while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol, failure to respect the highway code, and the poor mechanical condition of some vehicles.
Roads are not battlegrounds but shared spaces requiring civic responsibility from everyone.
By publishing this data transparently, authorities reaffirm their commitment to improving infrastructure, enhancing vehicle safety, and promoting road education especially during periods of high travel. Yet this is a collective fight.
Every Burkinabe whether a motorcyclist, driver, passenger, or pedestrian must exercise heightened caution.
Adopting calm driving habits, wearing seatbelts, using certified helmets, and avoiding all risky behavior are concrete actions that save lives.
True progress will be measured not merely by a decline in accidents, but by a radical reduction in injuries and deaths. Every life lost is one too many.
Through a profound change in behavior, we can transform our roads into corridors of life and development, not mourning. Prudence is not an option; it is an obligation to ourselves, our families, and the entire nation.
Maurice K.ZONGO
