Burkina Faso: the army wants to recall its mobilized retirees

Burkinabe special forces soldiers in training, February 2020 (photo illustration) The Washington Post via Getty Im – The Washington Post

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In Burkina Faso, the president of the transition, Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, is launching a mobilization of retired soldiers.

Faced with an upsurge in attacks attributed to armed terrorist groups, the Head of State wants to strengthen the workforce.

All non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers who have retired over the past three years are called upon to join the armed forces until March 18, as a reserve.

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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,

In the document dated March 10 and signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Henri Damiba, President of Faso, it is mentioned that this mobilization is requested for the " 

 ", without further details.

This mobilization concerns non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned soldiers admitted to retirement during the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. According to an officer, this concerns a few hundred people, the age for retirement in the categories concerned being between 50 and 57 years old.

Sedentary positions

" 

 ," he said before adding that those who are retired were "at the 

 ".

They could replace the youngest in barracks, in offices or in sedentary positions that do not require particular physical effort, our interlocutor said.

This recruitment had been proposed since 2019, but certain concerns about the effectiveness, care and status of these reservists, in the event of desertion, had prompted the authorities to delay its implementation, specifies a source within the military hierarchy.

Read also: Burkina Faso: the new chief of staff advocates a restructuring of the army

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• Burkina Faso