PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Burkina Faso: Burkina armed forces reform commission gets down to business
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) – A commission charged to reform the Burkina Faso Army in view of the security challenges facing the country began its task Tuesday in the country's capital Ouagadougou, official sources said.
The country's interim President Michel Kafando, who chaired the commission's inaugural session, said the reform must be understood in a broader perspective because it involves addressing serious issues such as terrorist threats, organized crime, cross-border criminality and the collective management of conflict.
Kafando added that the commission would conclude its task by recommending essential guidelines for political and military authorities so that they can make proper decisions for the future of Burkina armed forces.
Burkina Faso, like most of its Sahel neighbours, has faced terrorist threats for several months.
A convoy of vehicles transporting gold for a mining company operating in Inata, northern Burkina Faso, was attacked two days before the 29 Nov. 2015 elections by unidentified gunmen. Five terror suspects were arrested on 28 November in Pakala, a village located in the East of the country.
Three Burkina gendarmes were killed on 9 October in an attack perpetrated by a group of about 15 gunmen against their post in Samorogouan, near the Malian border. Explosives were recovered a some kilometres away from where the attack was carried out.
Also in late June, heavily armed men had attacked the mine of Tambao before abducting a Romanian national who was in-charge of security at the site.
-0- PANA NDT//BEH/MSA/AR 8Dec2015
The country's interim President Michel Kafando, who chaired the commission's inaugural session, said the reform must be understood in a broader perspective because it involves addressing serious issues such as terrorist threats, organized crime, cross-border criminality and the collective management of conflict.
Kafando added that the commission would conclude its task by recommending essential guidelines for political and military authorities so that they can make proper decisions for the future of Burkina armed forces.
Burkina Faso, like most of its Sahel neighbours, has faced terrorist threats for several months.
A convoy of vehicles transporting gold for a mining company operating in Inata, northern Burkina Faso, was attacked two days before the 29 Nov. 2015 elections by unidentified gunmen. Five terror suspects were arrested on 28 November in Pakala, a village located in the East of the country.
Three Burkina gendarmes were killed on 9 October in an attack perpetrated by a group of about 15 gunmen against their post in Samorogouan, near the Malian border. Explosives were recovered a some kilometres away from where the attack was carried out.
Also in late June, heavily armed men had attacked the mine of Tambao before abducting a Romanian national who was in-charge of security at the site.
-0- PANA NDT//BEH/MSA/AR 8Dec2015
