Burkina Faso acquires a high command of operations, endowed with extensive powers
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba took power on January 24 in Burkina Faso.
OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR), the military junta in power since January 24, is continuing its reforms within the army.
After the appointment of a new head of intelligence, she announced on the night of Friday to Saturday, February 5, the creation of a National Theater Operations Command, the COTN.
It is a complete innovation in the history of the Burkinabè army.
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With our special correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Gaëlle Laleix
The COTN "
exercises its authority over all the defense and security forces and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland
", explains a decree issued by the military junta.
This new command center operates throughout Burkina Faso, including “
land and air borders
”.
"
Military, police, gendarmes, customs, water and forests, VDP, are placed under a single command
", explains a source close to the MPSR.
“
His boss has the latitude to reorganize all these forces according to his tactical objectives.
Before, each entity was responsible for its own leader, which made coordination difficult
,” he concludes.
The decree specifies that this new command has the authority to take any necessary measure "
including restrictions of freedom, movement and the prohibition of certain means of movement
".
An extension of powers that does not worry Pascal Zaïda, national coordinator of the Framework for Democratic Expression, a civil society organization: "
Reducing internal disputes in the defense and security forces will help restore peace
", hopes he.
Other civil society organizations declined to comment.
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