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Burkina Faso: recruitment of 50,000 auxiliary civilians in the army to fight against jihadists

The mission of these volunteers will be “to protect, together with the defense and security forces, the populations and property of their communities of origin” against jihadist attacks, explained Colonel Boukaré Zoungrana.

Burkina Faso began this week the recruitment of 50,000 volunteers for the defense of the homeland (VDP), civilian auxiliaries who “will strengthen the ranks of the army in the context of the fight against terrorism,” he said on Tuesday.

“A recruitment of 35,000 municipal VDPs has begun, that is, 100 VDPs per municipality,” indicates a press release from the commander of the Patriotic Surveillance and Defense Brigade (BVDP), Colonel Boukaré Zoungrana, who was also appointed Minister of the Administration on Tuesday night. .territorial, decentralization and security.

This local recruitment is added to that of Monday, when the BVDP had announced its desire to build a force of 15,000 volunteers “that can be deployed throughout the national territory.”

14 day training

The status of VDP is defined by law since January 21, 2020. It is defined as “a person of Burkina Faso nationality, auxiliary to the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), who voluntarily serves the security interests of his people or your sector of residence”.

VDPs receive 14 days of civic and military training before being armed and provided with means of communication. They pay a heavy price in the jihadist attacks that regularly hit Burkina Faso, especially in the north and east.

These campaigns come after a coup d’état led on September 30 by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, whose stated objective is to strengthen the anti-jihadist struggle.

This Monday at least ten soldiers died and fifty were wounded in a “terrorist attack” in Djibo, a city under jihadist blockade for three months, in northern Burkina Faso. Jihadist groups control around 40% of Burkina Faso territory.

Author: GA with AFP
Source: BFM TV

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