Minister Célestin Simporé urged citizens to contribute human resources and skills to strengthen national defense capabilities.
Ouagadougou, October 20, 2026 – Minister of State for War and Patriotic Defense, General Célestin Simporé, called for a national mobilization of skills and human resources to reinforce Burkina Faso's sovereign defense. Speaking at an inaugural conference marking the 66th anniversary of the National Armed Forces (FAN), Simporé emphasized that national defense requires the organized participation of citizens through a military reserve system.
The minister highlighted the strategic importance of the military reserve, serving as a link between the army and society, and between military duty and citizen responsibility. He noted that the adoption of the law on the status of the military reserve on May 26, 2026, is a significant step in restructuring defense tools and strengthening the bond between the army and the nation. Simporé stressed that the FAN and the military reserve are complementary components of a national ambition to ensure defense, territorial integrity, and independence.
Colonel Major Souleymane Traoré, president of the organizing committee, stated that this conference is the first in a series of events to commemorate the FAN's anniversary on November 1. The ten-day program includes cultural and sports activities, conferences, ceremonies, decorations, and tributes. Traoré paid homage to fallen soldiers and other combatants, expressing condolences to the wounded, widows, and orphans of terrorism victims.
Why it mattersThe call for national mobilization impacts all citizens by requiring their participation in strengthening the country's defense.
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