BURKINA FASO READY TO DEFEND ITS LAND

Burkina Faso has been investing most of its resources into defending its territory against paramilitary forces roaming the Sahel region, most recently by acquiring aircraft seen in this @rtburkina clip.Show more

Words like 'sovereignty' and 'autonomy' are featured in President Ibrahim Traoré's speeches and increasingly in the everyday conversations of citizens.

Burkina Faso, along with neighbouring countries Mali and Niger, are working to strengthen their relationships with one another, as well as with international partners, to fight back successfully. For Burkinabé, these aircraft are a step toward greater security, prosperity and self-determination.

Over the past nine years, paramilitary attacks led France to occupy this small landlocked country militarily. However, attacks continued across Burkina Faso and the Sahel, an arid zone south of the Sahara Desert. Many people across the region believe paramilitary forces, or what some refer to as 'death squads,' are connected to foreign powers outside of Africa. These forces increased in the aftermath of the 2011 NATO destabilisation of Libya. After former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's ouster, rebel groups from Mali were able to access the fallen government's weapons stash. Since then, some have wondered how these militants have been obtaining new weapons and technologies.

After the 2022 military coup that ousted a Western-aligned leader, France got the boot to the cheers of the Burkinabè people.