Faced with the security emergency, the Burkinabe government is taking a new step in its defense strategy. A bill, sponsored by the Minister of Defense, Célestin Simporé, provides for the massive mobilization of 100,000 reservists to support the war effort against terrorism.

A large-scale citizen mobilization

The stated objective is clear: to build a lasting national bulwark. This new reserve system is divided into two distinct categories to optimize the military response:

1. The first circle: Composed of former military personnel and already trained staff, ready for immediate deployment.
2. The second circle: Open to volunteer citizens, who will follow a progressive training course before joining the operational system.

"This initiative prepares all citizens of fighting age to defend the homeland, while creating a force capable of intervening in major humanitarian crises." — Célestin Simporé

Institutionalizing defense: Beyond the VDP

While the country already relies on the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), this new national reserve aims to be more structured, permanent, and institutionalized . It addresses three major challenges:

1. The deteriorating security situation , illustrated by the recent attack on the Bagmoussa base (28 dead).
2. Geopolitical changes within the Sahel region.
3. Regional solidarity , as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) faces coordinated offensives by armed groups in neighbouring Mali.

Timeline and strategic issues

Due date	Objective
April 2026	The bill was adopted by the Council of Ministers.
End of 2026	Target of 100,000 trained reservists reached.
Missions	Counter-terrorism efforts, securing the territory and humanitarian support.

By broadening its mobilization base, Ouagadougou hopes not only to compensate for losses suffered on the ground, but above all to create a mass effect capable of permanently reversing the balance of power in the Sahel.