Africa-Press. The legislative assembly of Burkina Faso has adopted a bill concerning the status of military reserves as part of a broader strategy aimed at supporting the military in its fight against armed groups operating in the country.
This development comes amid escalating security challenges faced by Ouagadougou for years, with ongoing attacks carried out by extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the Sahel region. This situation has prompted transitional authorities to adopt an approach focused on mobilizing national resources and expanding public participation in the defense of the country.
Members of the legislative assembly approved the bill on Tuesday during a general session chaired by the assembly president, Osman Bougouma, with unanimous support from council members. Authorities described this step as a pivotal moment in strengthening national defense and internal security.
The government confirmed that the new text provides the country with a legal framework that is organized and suitable for the national context in the fields of defense and military reserves, allowing for the development of a mobilization system capable of responding swiftly to increasing security threats.
The committee on foreign affairs, defense, and security, which studied the bill, stated that the law reflects a “strong national commitment” to preserving the territorial integrity of Burkina Faso and enhancing the country’s security. It noted that the text goes beyond mere administrative arrangements towards building a long-term defensive vision based on citizen mobilization and strengthening the relationship between the military and society.
The new law organizes military reserves into two main components. The first is first-degree reserves, which include former military personnel, police officers, and former volunteers for national defense. These individuals possess prior military or security experience and can be mobilized immediately when necessary.
The second-degree reserves comprise volunteer citizens and former conscripts in national service, who will undergo gradual and specialized training to qualify them for participation in supporting defense and security operations.
According to authorities, this new system aims to establish an organized and rapidly deployable reserve force, enhancing the operational capabilities of the national armed forces and providing additional human support in emergencies or security escalations.
The most significant goal of the project is the authorities’ announcement of their intention to recruit and train 100,000 reserve personnel by the end of 2026, as part of a comprehensive government plan to strengthen national defense capabilities.
The Minister of War and National Defense, General Celestin Simpore, announced in late April that the country would work on training “all citizens capable of fighting” and calling them up as needed within the reserve forces.
Simpore stated that this step comes in the context of what he described as a “progressive popular revolution,” which is based on mobilizing citizens to defend the homeland and participate in addressing security and humanitarian crises.
He added that current international developments compel Burkina Faso to enhance its security sovereignty, asserting that “force has come to precede law” in the current international system, justifying the need to build a permanent mechanism for national mobilization.
These reforms come at a time when Burkina Faso is facing one of the most complex security crises in its modern history, experiencing a continuous rise in attacks by armed groups since 2015, particularly in the northern, eastern, and border areas with Mali and Niger.
Violence over the past years has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than two million people, while the state has lost complete control over large areas of territory, according to estimates from international organizations and security reports.
Despite ongoing military operations, extremist groups remain capable of carrying out attacks against the military, civilians, and infrastructure, prompting authorities to seek new tools to enhance security deployment and expand the human base of the armed forces.
The adoption of the law also coincides with significant geopolitical shifts in the Sahel region, as Burkina Faso has moved to reshape its regional alliances following the termination of military cooperation with France and the expulsion of French forces from its territory.
Ouagadougou has also strengthened its ties with Mali and Niger, which are also under military rule, within the framework of the “Sahel States Alliance,” through which the three countries aim to build security and political cooperation independent of traditional Western influence.
