Burkina Faso’s military junta head, Ibrahim Traoré, on Sunday said the fight for total independence began a few weeks ago, reported The MSN.
The announcement comes as some parts of the country is occupied by terrorists because of worsening security conditions due to the operations of jihadist groups.
In a speech on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the independence of Burkina Faso, the transitional president said that the fight necessarily involves weapons, but also values, behavior and the improvement of the economy.
“The battle against the enemy occupying our lands is about to begin,” he said adding that the “battle is in its preamble.”
Burkina Faso’s transitional leader also applauded the military units involved in the first ground and air actions and thanked the people who joined the ‘volunteer’ units to reinforce the anti-terrorist fight, according to a statement published by the Burkinabe Presidency on Facebook.
Traoré pointed out that the authorities have received donations of all kinds to improve the training of the volunteers and stressed that there have been meetings with social partners in Ouagadougou to demand more sacrifices from the Burkinabe so that the fight is carried out to liberate the lands from terrorists.
Last week, the Burkina Faso’ government announced plans to raise 152 million euros for a fund to support the war against a bloody jihadist insurgency.
On Friday, Economy Minister Aboubacar Nacanabo said the fund will enable the junta to raise 100 billion CFA for the year 2023.
The minister said Burkina Faso’s government has decided to recruit 50,000 members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland or VDP as part of the fight against terrorism.
He added the civilian auxiliaries who support the Burkina Faso’s army would be paid 60,000 CFA a month, or 91 euros.
“Beside this cost, weapons have to be bought to equip them, uniforms to fit them out, vehicles and fuel to move them,” Nacanabo said.
