Burkina Faso / VDP: The CEO of CKM Group, the Moroccan Pan-Africanist, Mr. Mohamed Khalid Chafaqui gives his opinion
At the end of November, the transitional authorities announced that they had recruited 90,000 volunteers for the defence of the homeland (VDP). The recruitment of these civilian auxiliaries is intended to assist the army in the fight against violent extremist groups.
In a note published in mid-December, Pan-Africanist Mohamed Khalid Chafaqui believes that “in Burkina Faso, the time has come for patriotic mobilization to confront violent extremist groups that occupy more than 40% of the national territory.The recruitment campaign of 50,000 volunteers for the defense of the homeland (VDP), launched in October 2022 by the authorities of the MPSR, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, ended on November 18 with the receipt at the enrolment sites of 90,000 application files. A true patriotic success.”
According to the CEO of the CKM group, Pan-Africanist Mohamed Khalid Chafaqui, “the use of civilian auxiliaries to support the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) in the fight against terrorism is the MPSR which is commendable. They operate particularly in the regions of Kaya (Centre-North), Ouahigouya (North) and Fada-n’gourma (East).The new authorities of the MPSR led by His Excellency, Ibrahim Traoré intend to generalize the deployments by distributing 35,000 VDP in their communes of residence and 15,000 alongside the fds throughout the territory.” for this, “initial training” will be given to the selected VDPs, said Sawadogo. Until now, VDPs received 14 days of civic and military training before being armed and provided with means of communication.
The status of WTPs has been defined by law since 21 January 2020. He is defined as “a person of Burkinabe nationality, auxiliary to the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), voluntarily serving the security interests of his village or sector of residence”.
It should be mentioned that, His Excellency, Ibrahim Traoré advocates the involvement of all Burkinabè in the fight against terrorist groups. To this end, it has multiplied exchanges with national actors: elements of the different components of the fds, the VDP and representatives of political parties and civil society organizations.He called on both sides to unite and insisted on the need for good collaboration between the SDF and the VDP on the ground. Captain Traoré also invited Burkinabè of good will to participate in the war effort by making their contributions in kind or in cash. Gestures welcomed by the Pan-Africanist leader Mohamed Khalid Chafaqui, as well as several Pan-Africanists from various backgrounds.
Miss OLY
