Ouagadougou: The Burkinabe government has unveiled plans to elevate the Brigade of Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (BVDP) to the status of an army, aiming to address the country's ongoing security challenges more effectively.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the government intends to revise the current decree that established the BVDP, providing it with a legal framework suitable for confronting security threats. Key features of the new decree include officially designating the BVDP as an army, clarifying its missions, defining its motto, and ensuring the permanence of its foundational decree.

The BVDP, created in December 2019, was originally tasked with supporting Burkinabe forces in combating terrorism. Its mission encompasses participating in both civil and operational defense of the territory and fostering popular mobilization.

In a speech delivered on December 31, 2025, President Captain Ibrahim Traore highlighted his commitment to reorganizing the BVDP, now referred to as the Brigade for the Fight Against Terrorism and Deterrence, to enhance its effectiveness in countering terrorism.