Captain Traoré Leads Graduation of 85 Burkinabe Cadets at Georges Namoano Military Academy

OUAGADOUGOU – Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Transition and Supreme Head of Burkina Faso’s National Armed Forces, presided over the graduation ceremony of 100 officer cadets at the Georges Namoano Military Academy this Saturday. The event celebrated the completion of training for the cadets, including 85 from Burkina Faso, who were commissioned as second lieutenants.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the class of 2024, named ‘Faso Kanu’ by Captain Traoré, includes cadets of various nationalities prepared to defend their countries with utmost dedication. The term ‘Faso Kanu’—meaning patriotism in the Dioula language—reflects a broader effort to promote national languages and cultural identity as central to the sovereignty of Burkina Faso.

Captain Traoré emphasized the role of the military in Burkina Faso’s ongoing struggle against colonial influence and for national integrity. “The army’s mission is to forge stronger bonds with the civilian population and foster a culture of patriotism and integrity,” he stated during the ceremony. The cadets, who began their training in November 2022, were recognized for their readiness to serve, despite recent adjustments to their training regimen to better address current military challenges.

The graduation also included 15 cadets from countries such as Djibouti, Central Africa, Gabon, Congo, Guinea, Senegal, Mali, and Niger, underlining the academy’s role in training military leadership across the region.