Burkina Faso Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Burkinabe Business

TL;DR. Burkina Faso’s company registration is handled through CEFORE (Centre de Formalites des Entreprises) in Ouagadougou, which maintains the OHADA-standard RCCM. The portal at cefore.bf is French-only with limited public search. Certified extracts require in-person or agent-assisted application. Burkina Faso was added to the FATF grey list in 2023, requiring enhanced due diligence for all Burkinabe counterparties.

Who searches for Burkinabe company information, and why it’s hard

Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahelian country with an economy centred on cotton, gold mining, and subsistence agriculture. Foreign engagement comes primarily from mining companies, development finance institutions, humanitarian organisations, and regional trade intermediaries. Since the military coup of September 2022 and Burkina Faso’s subsequent FATF grey-listing in 2023, compliance scrutiny of Burkinabe counterparties has intensified.

The company registry operates through CEFORE in Ouagadougou, part of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina Faso. The OHADA legal framework applies, providing a standardised corporate law structure, but physical access and limited digitisation mean that foreign buyers consistently encounter friction when attempting to verify Burkinabe entities remotely.

This guide explains the realistic access options, what data you can obtain, and the specific compliance considerations in 2026.

Registry at a glance

Name: The primary registration mechanism is the Registre du Commerce et du Credit Mobilier (RCCM), operated through CEFORE (Centre de Formalites des Entreprises du Burkina Faso).

Operator: Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Burkina Faso (CCI-BF), with the RCCM maintained under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice under the OHADA Uniform Act framework.

URL: www.cefore.bf [VERIFY: CEFORE portal operational status and public search functionality as of 2026-05-17. The site was accessible in 2024 for registration-related information, but the scope of public company search for foreign users could not be confirmed.]

What is covered: All commercial entities under Burkina Faso law: SARL (private limited), SA (public limited), SNC (general partnership), SCS (limited partnership), entreprise individuelle (sole trader), GIE (economic interest group), and branches of foreign companies operating in Burkina Faso.

Access model: Registration and basic documentation services are available through CEFORE offices in Ouagadougou and secondary offices in Bobo-Dioulasso. Online services may be available for some transactions but public-facing company search for external users is limited. In-person application or an in-country agent is the standard route for obtaining certified extracts.

How to search

Step 1: Online check. Navigate to www.cefore.bf and look for any public search or “recherche d’entreprise” function. [VERIFY: Online search scope and functionality as of 2026-05-17.] The interface is in French.

Step 2: Identify the RCCM number. Burkina Faso RCCM numbers follow the OHADA format: [City prefix]-[year]-[type letter]-[sequential number]. Ouagadougou prefix is typically “OUA”. Example: OUA-2020-B-12345. If your counterparty has provided a RCCM number, use this as the primary search key.

Step 3: IFU cross-reference. Burkinabe companies have an Identifiant Fiscal Unique (IFU) issued by the Direction Generale des Impots (DGI). The DGI may offer an online verification portal; [VERIFY: DGI Burkina Faso online IFU search availability as of 2026-05-17.]

Step 4: In-person or agent request. For a certified RCCM extract, approach the CEFORE office in Ouagadougou or engage a local commercial agent or law firm. Required: company name, RCCM number, and city of registration. Turnaround is typically 2-5 business days from application.

Step 5: Security context note. As of 2026, parts of Burkina Faso experience material conflict-related instability. Travel to in-person government offices may carry elevated risk. Remote engagement via a reputable Ouagadougou-based agent or law firm is strongly preferred over personal travel.

What you can find

A certified RCCM extract typically provides:

• Company name and trade name (if any)
• RCCM registration number and registration date
• Legal form (SARL, SA, entreprise individuelle, GIE, branch)
• Status: active, in dissolution, or struck off
• Registered address (siege social)
• Date of incorporation
• Business activity (objet social)
• Share capital (capital social) in XOF
• Directors/managers: names
• Shareholders: listed for SARL entities

Financial statements and beneficial ownership data are not part of the standard RCCM extract.

What is missing

• Beneficial ownership: No public UBO registry in Burkina Faso. OHADA does not mandate public UBO disclosure at a regional level. This is a material gap given the FATF grey-listing.
• Financial statements: Not publicly available through CEFORE.
• Litigation records: Not available via the RCCM. Held by courts; not systematically accessible to foreign parties.
• Conflict zone exposure: RCCM data does not disclose whether a company operates in or near conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso, which is directly relevant to sanctions compliance and risk assessment.
• Sanctions screening: The RCCM does not integrate with any sanctions list. Separate screening against UN, OFAC, EU, and other lists is required.

Pricing

Exchange rate reference: XOF/USD approximately 600:1 (May 2026, approximate; XOF pegged to EUR). Verify at BCEAO (bceao.int). Fees payable in XOF cash or bank transfer.

English availability and practical access

There is no English interface on any Burkinabe government company registry portal. All processes are in French. Foreign buyers require French-speaking analysts or local agents for every step.

Given the security situation in Burkina Faso as of 2026, all remote engagement via reputable Ouagadougou-based agents is preferred. Several West African law firms with Ouagadougou desks (often headquartered in Abidjan, Dakar, or Paris) handle Burkinabe entity verification for international clients.

Alternatives when the registry is limited

• In-country legal counsel: Ouagadougou-based lawyers with OHADA expertise are the most reliable route.
• OHADA documentation: www.ohada.com provides the legal framework governing Burkinabe company law.
• BCEAO: Financial sector licensing data for banks and financial institutions.
• GIABA: The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa provides the AML/CFT context for Burkina Faso.
• FATF grey list documentation: The FATF follow-up reports on Burkina Faso (since 2023 grey-listing) provide detailed information on specific AML/CFT weaknesses that affect compliance risk assessment.
• UN Security Council: Given Burkina Faso’s conflict environment and association with Sahel instability, UN Security Council documentation on regional arms embargoes and sanction regimes (targeting jihadist groups) is relevant to sector-specific due diligence.

Compliance buyer notes

Burkina Faso was placed on the FATF grey list (increased monitoring) in 2023. This has material implications for foreign compliance buyers:

• Enhanced due diligence is required for all Burkinabe counterparties under most AML/CFT regulatory frameworks. This means more documentation, direct requests for beneficial ownership confirmation, and enhanced ongoing monitoring.
• Conflict and terrorism financing risk: Burkina Faso faces an active jihadist insurgency in its north and east, with documented links to groups including JNIM and ISWAP. Compliance buyers dealing with entities active in conflict-affected regions face elevated exposure to terrorism financing risk.
• Political risk: Following the September 2022 military coup, Burkina Faso is governed by a military transitional authority (MPSR). Government contracts, licensing, and state-linked entities are subject to heightened political risk.
• Mining sector: Burkina Faso is a material gold producer. Mining sector due diligence must address conflict gold risks, artisanal mining, and the specific compliance frameworks around responsible sourcing (OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas).
• Sanctions: No complete OFAC or EU country sanctions apply to Burkina Faso as of mid-2026. Individual actors linked to jihadist groups may appear on OFAC/UN lists. Screening of individuals and entities is mandatory.
• State of emergency: Parts of Burkina Faso have been under a state of emergency, which affects business operations and access.

Any Burkinabe counterparty engagement warrants a documented EDD file. The combination of FATF grey-listing, military governance, and active conflict makes this one of the higher-risk West African jurisdictions for compliance purposes in 2026.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: CEFORE Burkina Faso (cefore.bf); BCEAO (bceao.int); FATF Burkina Faso grey-list and mutual evaluation (fatf-gafi.org); GIABA West Africa AML/CFT assessments; African Development Bank Burkina Faso profile (afdb.org).