Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso’s government has announced a significant change in the structure and mission of its national police force, aiming to bolster efforts in countering terrorism. The Multipurpose Intervention Unit of the National Police (UIP-PN) has been renamed and repurposed to better address the country’s evolving security needs.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the newly named Special Intervention Group of the National Police (GSIPN) is an elite unit tasked with managing complex security crises and conducting operations of strategic interest. This change reflects a broader shift in the government’s approach to handling security challenges, particularly in response to the growing threat of terrorism.

The GSIPN’s inception comes in the wake of the government’s decision on October 25, 2023, to create Groups of Mobile Intervention Units (GUMI). These elite police units have been actively engaged in the fight against terrorism for the past two years. The restructuring of the UIP-PN into the GSIPN aligns with this strategy, aiming to make the national police force more agile and effective in responding to security threats. The move signals the government’s continued commitment to adapting its security apparatus to meet the challenges posed by the evolving security landscape in Burkina Faso and the broader region.