Burkina Faso: Priority given to security offensive under Minister Mahamadou Sana
Since his appointment as head of the Ministry of Security, Divisional Police Commissioner Mahamadou Sana has brought his rich field experience to the fight against terrorism and insecurity in Burkina Faso. In an extremely difficult national context, his actions are structured around several priority areas aimed at restructuring, modernizing, and making the state’s security response more offensive.
One of his first actions was to continue and intensify the reconfiguration of the Internal Security Forces (FSI).
This strategy translates into a more effective redeployment of units across the country, favoring an increased and reactive presence in areas most vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
The objective is clear: to shift from a defensive posture to a decidedly offensive dynamic to regain the initiative against armed groups.
This approach is accompanied by regular, targeted punch operations conducted in coordination with the National Armed Forces.
These security, sweeping, and control operations aim to disrupt enemy networks, secure vital communication routes for the economy and social cohesion, and enable the gradual return of displaced populations to their homes.
Aware that modern warfare is also won through technology, Mahamadou Sana places the modernization of equipment at the heart of his priorities.
This includes the acquisition of state-of-the-art logistical and communication equipment to improve the mobility, protection, and operational effectiveness of police and gendarmes on the ground.
Simultaneously, particular attention is being paid to strengthening intelligence capabilities. The fight against terrorism largely depends on the ability to anticipate the adversary’s actions.
The ministry is therefore working to consolidate information-gathering networks within populations and to improve the analytical processing of this data to thwart attacks and dismantle sleeper cells.
Beyond the strictly military aspect, Minister Sana emphasizes the imperative of restoring trust between the FSI and citizens. This is an essential pillar of the security strategy.
Awareness-raising actions and collaboration with local communities are encouraged to promote the reporting of suspicious elements and strengthen national cohesion in the face of the common enemy.
While the road remains long and fraught with obstacles, the direction taken under the leadership of Divisional Commissioner Mahamadou Sana shows a firm willingness to adapt the security response to the evolving nature of the threat.
His technical leadership and intimate knowledge of the field inspire a new approach, combining strength, intelligence, and proximity, to meet the existential challenge facing Burkina Faso.
Olivier TOE
