The authorities in Burkina Faso, struggling to grapple with a growing wave of Islamist militant attacks that is affecting the region, are planning to give weapons to civilians, as Louise Dewast reports.

The Burkinabe government is under pressure to take new measures to try and curtail the militants.In January alone, at least 60 people were killed in four separate attacks in the north of the country, with another 20 killed on Sunday.

Members of parliament recently unanimously voted in favour of arming civilians in a move they said would help combat the armed groups. It is due to be signed into law.

The attacks by militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have significantly increased in the past year, causing more than half a million people to flee their homes.

Critics have questioned whether the new measure will make people safer, but the government insists that armed volunteers are necessary to stem the spread of violence.

Why get civilians involved?

The law says that the army's capacity to fight the militants is limited in terms of numbers of soldiers and lack of appropriate training."In light of the persistent threat, the populations have expressed their desire to actively engage in the defence of the homeland ," it states.

But this is not proof of the army's weakness the govt insisted.Speaking to the BBC, Communication Minister Remi Dandjinou likened the future volunteers to members of the French resistance during Germany's occupation of France in the World War Two.

But there is a concern that the new measures could heighten ethnic conflict and fuel tensions between rival hunting and farming communities.

"The Burkinabe security forces are themselves implicated in very serious abuses against suspects," Corinne Dufka from Human Rights Watch told the BBC. "That is why subcontracting any defence responsibilities to armed civilians is so potentially problematic."

"It could exacerbate rising communal tensions and lead to more abuses, which would in turn push more people into the hands of the jihadists."

Burkina Faso's government has previously denied claims of widespread abuse.

Who will be armed?

Any national aged 18 and over can be considered for recruitment and there is no maximum age. But recruits cannot be part of any political group or party.

Volunteers must be patriotic and loyal and have a "spirit of sacrifice" which could include making the "ultimate sacrifice", according to the law that the MPs backed.But, after it was passed, Defence Minister Cheriff Sy insisted recruits would not be used as "cannon fodder".

The army in Burkina Faso is backed by a French force which is also operating in other parts of the Sahel Recruitment will be carried out at a local level at an assembly where village leaders will be supervised by the army.

But the volunteers will not be a route to legitimising self-defence groups, made up of people who are sometimes referred to as vigilantes.

In Burkina Faso, as in Mali and Nigeria, civilians have armed themselves to defend their homes, and in some cases, gone on the offensive.These self-defence groups are not officially sanctioned by authorities.They are often composed on ethnic lines and have in many cases targeted rival communities.

One of the concerns raised is that parts of the country - up to one-third according to some estimates are believed to be under the control of militant groups, making it far too dangerous and impractical to hand out weapons in those areas.

The north and north-eastern border areas with Mali and Niger are the most affected by attacks, but so are increasingly the southern border areas.

What training will volunteers get?

It is unclear when the recruitment will start and whether people are actually keen to sign up. The law states that at least 10 volunteers should be recruited per village or area of residency.Once they are recruited, the volunteers will undergo 14 days of training, which will include how to handle weapons, basic combat methods, the rules of discipline and civic and moral education.

It is unclear who will be providing the training and whether it will be followed up.After their induction, the recruits will be given weapons,along with communication & observation equipment.But they will not get uniforms.

While volunteers, who are expected to sign up for at least a year, will not be paid, the groups will receive financial support from the state for equipment and other mission-related expenses.They are also allowed to receive donations.

They will get medical bills paid if they are injured and compensation if they are left with permanent injuries. Funerals will be paid for if those who die in action.
Nationally, the ministry of defence will oversee the work of the civilian force, but locally the village chief will be responsible.

What is their mission?
Volunteers are expected to be available at all times in their village.They are expected to support the work of the army and police force, to help secure their village or district.

This could involve conducting surveillance and providing intelligence to the army but they are forbidden from conduct policing activities.The volunteers will be expected to abide by a code of conduct, which for now has not been made public.

Mods pls lets hear the opinion of Nigerians too.
Lalasticlala, OAM4J

Sahel crisis: Burkina Faso To Arm Civilians Against Militants
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51268809

Wrong move on wrong direction. The government should recruit more security personnel as this will back fire. Communities will used the arms against one another.

My opinion though.

Wrong move that may fire back

Fanatic islamic terrorism, political & social agitations have given rise to escalating arm struggle globally.In a setting like Nigeria where government have woefully failed to provide security & stem the tide of illicit arms proliferation, the best approach is let there be regional collaboration on security e.g. the Amotekun issue.

In failure of this, then let there be arms struggle or proliferation.After all, BH/Fulani terrorists have received tremendous covert & overt support from government by its action or inaction.So no group should be allowed to lord it over another arms-wise.All lives matter.Live and let's live.

helinues:
Wrong move that may fire back

What is more worst than govt failing to provide security or the security architecture of a nation like Nigeria being structured in a grossly imbalanced ethno-religious pattern yet totally incompetent & clueless?

Is that not what the president is doing today? Recycling BH/fulani terrorists as repented, reformatted and deradicalized killers?

Racoon:
What is more worst than govt failing to provide security or the security architecture of a nation like Nigeria being structured in a grossly imbalanced ethno-religious pattern yet totally incompetent & clueless?

Is that not what the president is doing today? Recycling BH/fulani terrorists as repented, reformatted and deradicalized killers?

Do you know how many guns are in possession of Syria and Yemen citizens....

What's the outcome of the meeting the Sahel country presidents had with Macron?

This is a welcome idea. Instead of allowing people to be wasted like that by those terrorists it's better they armed and encouraged to fight back. Wish this will be done in Nigeria too, but I know it won't be allowed because we love to deceive ourselves here

helinues:
Wrong move that may fire back

Offcourse the plan of the Islamist to kill freely will backfire ...Why are you always worried about any move that will neutralise Jihadist na.. so Guns is okay with Islamist but when the good people are armed it will back fire ...Backfire hold you there

GamalNasser:


Offcourse the plan of the Islamist to kill freely will backfire ...Why are you always worried about any move that will neutralise Jihadist na.. so Guns is okay with Islamist but when the good people are armed it will back fire ...Backfire hold you there

You are still wailing on Sahel matter...

Say that to Profs ISHAQ & Yahya. And to ALHASSAN SALEH, BODEJO, YUSUF, IMAFIDON, AMUTA, ANWALU, SANI, DANI SANI ETCETERA ETCETERA. NIGERIANS reserve The INALIENABLE RIGHTS TO ARM THEMSELVES AGAINST BANDITS, BOKOHARAM, FULANI HERDSMEN, MIYETTI ALLAH, MURIC'S PLOTS ETCETERA EVEN WITH KNIFES, JAVELINS AND CUTLASSES.

I like this move. Instead of being a easy target for the jihadist defend yourselves. The government should offer them training. After that form small militia groups live your normal lives.

In Nigeria the govt is against self defence
Our president is a Fulani Arab

This is a right move and I support the Burkinabe government. Arm the civilians and let's see how those terrorists would enter a village and wipe out defenseless people

In Nigeria the govt disarms the citizens instead and lets the Terrorist run wild

A case study of USA, reason why USA cant just be attacked or experience insurgency is not because of technology but basically everyone is armed or can be armed. Latinos will think twice before attacking the blacks and vise versa.

Another case study of countries like finland simply prevent arms infiltration into the community making them peaceful.

Is either you arm everyone or disarm everyone. If there is a drastic shift in the bal, one party feel like the oppressor and other the oppressed. Since Nigeria has a porous border and fulani herdsman her armed the best method is to arm everyone.

though there will be bad side (regulations will take care to reasonable extent)but the good side out weigh the bad. Arm everyone and the terrorist will think twice before making a move

Electrification:
This is a welcome idea. Instead of allowing people to be wasted like that by those terrorists it's better they armed and encouraged to fight back......

Nigeria is already @ that precipice bro with BH, Fulanis, unknown gunmen running amok.So self defense is the no-1 instinct of survival.

It's either everyone is armed or everyone.If there is a drastic shift in the balance, one party will feel like the oppressor and other oppressed.So since Nigeria have a porous border while fulani herdsmen are armed, the best thing is to arm everyone.

The same useless religion everywhere yet one lPO of police suddenly is interviewing a claim and unusual suspect on tv overnight.

I don't believe INEC or the desperate police of Nigeria.

Members of parliament recently unanimously voted in favour of arming civilians in a move they said would help combat the armed groups. It is due to be signed into law.

Good measure but what will be the repercussion?

What Islam will cause in this world ehhh...

Racoon:
Fanatic islamic terrorism, political & social agitations have given rise to escalating arm struggle globally.In a setting like Nigeria where government have woefully failed to provide security & stem the tide of illicit arms proliferation, the best approach is let there be regional collaboration on security e.g. the Amotekun issue.

In failure of this, then let there be arms struggle or proliferation.After all, BH/Fulani terrorists have received tremendous covert & overt support from government by its action or inaction.So no group should be allowed to lord it over another arms-wise.All lives matter.Live and let's live.

These are the terrorist buhari is bringing via ''Visa on arrival'' into Nigeria to be settled in Fulani Colonies (Ruga).
No govt in the history of Nigeria open the borders wide open for all kinds of foreign terrorist like Buhari's evil regime.
ONE NIGERIA IS DEAD.

These are the same Sahel people Buhari has been desperate to protect over Nigeria. The same people whom were shipped in both from Niger and The Sahel to participate in 2019 election voting. These same people Buhari claimed they don’t have water and because they are herders they are amoving towards Nigeria where they can feed their cattle’s. Why are they investing their money on weapons to kill innocent people instead of using that money source water that will help their business

capturing of damboa,gwoza and others couldn't have been so easy if the people could afford to defend themselves.