GOURMA – The High Commissioner of Gourma, Silas Nakanabo, has issued a ban on the cultivation of specific high-stalk crops within urban centers and nearby areas in the villages to enhance security measures. This ban affects corn, sorghum, and millet among other dry cereals and is effective immediately, according to a press release dated June 11, 2024.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this initiative is designed to improve the safety of the populations within these areas, particularly considering the current security context. The prohibition also facilitates the operational efficiency of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), as they work on securing and stabilizing the region. Additionally, the decree strictly forbids the cultivation of any crops within 50 meters of major thoroughfares, including national road no. 4, regional roads, and rural routes.