Burkina Faso: Territorial control progresses, proof of the effectiveness of the new military doctrine -

Security in Burkina Faso has been experiencing a new dynamic since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power. The figures bear witness to this: territorial control has increased from 73.56% in December 2025 to 74.53% as of 30 June 2026, while more than 1.3 million IDPs have been able to return to more than 1,000 localities across the country. This progress is not the result of chance, but the result of a profound transformation of the Burkinabe army.

As soon as he became head of state, Captain Traoré made the refoundation of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) an absolute priority. The situation was alarming: an under-equipped army, with less than 100,000 Kalashnikov cartridges in stock, poor logistics and excessive dependence on external partners who imposed their conditions. The head of state has made a radical break with this situation.

The massive acquisition of modern equipment was the first step in this transformation. Attack helicopters, armored vehicles, surveillance drones, secure communication systems: the SDF’s arsenal has been considerably strengthened. The Patriotic Support Fund, fed by the voluntary contributions of Burkinabè, has made it possible to mobilize more than 660 billion CFA francs to finance these strategic equipment.

The second major innovation lies in the integration of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) into the security system. This « steel » duo, combining conventional forces and community fighters, has made it possible to impose a new balance of power on the ground. The VDPs, knowing their localities perfectly, provide valuable intelligence and an immediate response capacity.

On the operational level, Captain Traoré’s strategy has shifted the army from a defensive posture to an offensive dynamic. Large-scale operations are multiplying, allowing the recapture of strategic localities and the neutralization of hundreds of terrorists.

The return of more than 1.3 million displaced people in more than 1,000 localities is the most eloquent indicator of this reconquest. It reflects the population’s renewed confidence in the State’s ability to ensure their security. Administrative services, schools and health centers are gradually reopening in the liberated areas, allowing a return to normal life.

This dynamic is based on Captain Traoré’s determination to place the salvation of the homeland in the hands of his own children. By transforming the Burkinabe army and mobilizing all national energies, he demonstrates that security sovereignty is not an empty word. There is still a long way to go, but the results are there: Burkina Faso is gradually regaining control of its territory and its destiny.

TheHatLady