Burkina Faso: President Kaboré cleans up the gendarmerie

A gendarme on duty in Ouagadougou (photo illustration).

ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

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This reorganization comes after the dysfunctions revealed within the gendarmerie command following the attack on Inata on November 14, with nearly 53 gendarmes killed.

Major announcement: the creation of the Special Legion, a new entity bringing together elite units of the gendarmerie.

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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,

About ten new chiefs have just been appointed to the Burkinabè national gendarmerie.

The three gendarmerie regions are now headed by young officers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Koagri Natama is appointed commander of the first region.

The second region is under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jean Marie Combasseré.

As for the third gendarmerie region, it is now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Rakiswendé Lionid Diabri.

Lieutenant-Colonel Evrard Somda takes the head of the Special Legion.

A new entity that brings together all the elite units of the gendarmerie, including the Rapid Action Groups - Surveillance and Intervention (Garsi), set up with the support of the European Union.

Further appointments needed in the military

"

", supports a security source.

According to the same source, these appointments are important but they will not prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred in Inata, if the change does not concern the army as a whole. 

This reorganization could breathe new life into the fight against insecurity if it is followed by new appointments within the armed forces, according to specialists.

By starting to reorganize the gendarmerie, says researcher Mahamoudou Sawadogo, President Kaboré wants to make it a main tool in this fight against terrorism.

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• Burkina Faso