Ouargaye Residents Rally in Support of Captain Ibrahim Traoré and Demand Stronger Counter-Terrorism Measures

Ouargaye – In a significant show of solidarity on Sunday, April 7, 2024, the residents of Ouargaye, the capital of Koulpelogo province, gathered to express unwavering support for Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Transition government, acknowledging the efforts in bolstering the country’s defenses against terrorism. The public endorsement comes amid escalating terrorist activities that have intensified in Ouargaye and surrounding areas.

According to Burkina Information Agency, while appreciating the recruitment, training, and equipping of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) and the actions of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) in reclaiming territory, the community voiced concern over the surge in terrorist assaults on their villages. Additionally, the prolonged blockade of national road No. 17 since early 2023 has severely disrupted local life and economy.

The demonstrators called on the national leadership for decisive actions to mitigate the security crisis. Their demands include an armed response to reclaim villages currently under the control of terrorist factions, further recruitment of VDP members in specific villages, and the urgent reopening of national road No. 17 that connects Tenkodogo to Ouargaye, near the Togo border. These steps, they argue, are critical for restoring freedom of movement and stabilizing the region.

This public rally for support and action follows a commitment made on April 6, 2024, by Colonel Aboudou Lamizana, governor of the Center-East region. In Tenkodogo, he assured the populace that substantial measures are underway to resume traffic on national road No. 17 and to initiate its paving, signaling a concerted effort to address the concerns raised by the Ouargaye community.