In Burkina Faso, the authorities announced on Thursday 24 November that they had recruited 90,000 volunteers for the defense of the homeland (VDP), civilian auxiliaries intended to assist the army in the fight against terrorism. A recruitment campaign was launched on October 24 with the objective of recruiting 50,000 volunteers.
L’initial purpose of enrollment is largely exceeded. In his press release, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Sawadogo, commander of the Patriotic Watch and Defense Brigade, explains that not all the registrants are yet “ retained for the moment “. Those who are will then benefit” initial training “, According to the press release, which does not give more details.
Among these people who applied to become VDP, there is Daouda Ouedraogo, an electrician by training. Asked by our correspondent in Ouagadougou, Yaya Boudanihe said he was revolted by the situation in the country: “JI don’t want these people to come and rape our children, our parents. Our weapon of deterrence is to enlist to show our determination, because this country is the “country of honest men”. »
For Souma, another volunteer aged around 60, no Burkinabè should helplessly watch the occupation of villages and the closing of schools by armed groups. ” These people, they are not stronger than us, they are not more numerous than us. Lately, I hear what is happening in my village. They came to close the schools. That revolts me. I’m determined to go all the way », he believes.
Some organizations wonder
According to some civil society organizations, the integration of these new volunteers raises many questions: Will they be sufficiently trained? How will they be supervised on the ground? Will social cohesion and community balance be respected?
A resident of Djibo, in Soum (north), recalls that the arrival of volunteers was not easy. “ Many came from surrounding villages and some committed abusesexplains this source, which provoked a reaction of rejection “.
Adama Congo, president of the Patriotic Youth Organization, is satisfied that the “ people of Burkina Faso accepted the concept of generalized people’s war “. He is not worried about social cohesion, because “ all VDPs are Burkinabè. »
Contacted by RFI, the army staff explained that it would communicate on the operationalization of new recruits “ in right time “.
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