Burkina Faso: VDP and human rights, a strategic guide to reclaiming territory
Under the leadership of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso has been resolutely committed since 2022 to reclaiming its territory from the grip of terrorist armed groups. The Defense and Security Forces (FDS), supported by the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) the frontline defenders of peace and national integrity are waging this strategic battle with courage and determination.
In this effort, an illustrated guide on human rights was officially presented on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, to the VDP Brigade, marking a decisive turning point in the training of the nation’s brave sons and daughters.
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Developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (MJDHRI), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the VDP Brigade, this document provides a clear and accessible framework for the ethical and operational training of the VDP.
By incorporating key modules such as the protection of women and children, prevention of gender-based violence, and stress management in conflict zones, this guide reinforces the humanitarian foundation of the patriotic military campaign led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
It aims to forge a new generation of fighters committed on the battlefield while upholding fundamental human rights principles.
Through this initiative, Captain Ibrahim Traoré reaffirms a clear-sighted and Pan-African vision of the liberation struggle: an armed fight, yes, but one guided by the values of justice, dignity, and reconstruction.
Beyond territorial reconquest, this marks the beginning of rebuilding Burkina Faso’s social and institutional fabric.
Olivier TOE
