In Burkina Faso, 974 volunteers from the "Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland" (VDP) militia, including technical specialists, have joined the army to strengthen counterterrorism efforts, the Burkinabe Information Agency (AIB) reports.
An official induction ceremony for the new recruits after three months of training took place on May 22 in Ouagadougou at the General Baba Sy military camp.
"These young recruits have undergone rigorous, demanding, and exhausting training, both physical and mental. They have learned weapons handling, tactics, but above all, self-improvement, resilience, and a spirit of collectivism," said battalion commander Issaka Ouedraogo of the Third Military Region's Regional Training Center.
Earlier in May, more than 1,100 sergeants joined Burkina Faso's armed forces after training at the National School for Active Non-Commissioned Officers (ENSOA).
At the end of April, AIB reported that Burkina Faso would create a 100,000-strong military reserve to strengthen national defense and counterterrorism.
In the Sahel, affiliates of the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have been active for more than a decade, destabilizing the situation in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
— Terrorist organizations banned in Russia