Dedougou: The garrison of Dedougou commemorated, on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the 65th anniversary of the National Armed Forces (FAN), under the theme: “National Armed Forces engaged with the people in the People’s Progressive Revolution, for a sovereign defense of the territory”. The ceremony, presided over by the Commander of the 5th Military Region and Commander of Arms of Dedougou, Lieutenant Colonel Idrissa Sosthene Coulibaly, was marked by tributes, decorations and gestures of solidarity towards the soldiers wounded at the front.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Commander of the 5th Military Region and Commander of Arms of Dedougou, Lieutenant Colonel Idrissa Sosthene Coulibaly, conveyed the message of the Minister of State, Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, who saluted the bravery of the pioneers and paid tribute to the heroes who fell in the defense of the homeland. He recalled that this 65th anniversary is being held in a context of national refoundation, where the symbiosis between the army and the people constitutes the basis of Burkina Faso’s regained sovereignty.
Lieutenant Colonel Idrissa Sosthene Coulibaly highlighted the reforms undertaken for the rise of the fighting forces, including the creation of new units, the improvement of the living conditions of personnel, and the establishment of a military training institute. The Commander of the 5th Military Region expressed his deep gratitude to Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of Faso, as well as to the Burkinabe people for their constant support through the Patriotic Support Fund.
Placing the celebration under the seal of the People’s Progressive Revolution, he reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the National Armed Forces alongside the people, in the sovereign defense of the territory. “The country is in revolution and the National Armed Forces cannot be on the sidelines of this dynamic. This orientation allows us to break with the classic patterns that have long kept our country in alienation and underdevelopment,” he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Coulibaly insisted on the central place of the army in this revolution, as an emanation of the people and guarantor of national dignity. “In the face of the asymmetrical war imposed on us, we have no right to give in. Victory belongs to people who are dignified, courageous, and united. Our people, proud heirs of the great resistors to colonial penetration, will never renounce their freedom or sovereignty,” he said, before calling for unity, discipline, and vigilance to guarantee final victory.
The ceremony was also punctuated by the presentation of decorations to thirteen soldiers for their bravery and exemplary dedication. Twelve of them received the Military Medal, while one firefighter was awarded the Medal of Honour. At the end of the ceremony, a comfort visit was made to the infirmary of the 10th Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR 10) and to the Military Medical Center, where the authorities handed over donations in kind and a financial envelope to the wounded soldiers.
The President of the special delegation of Dedougou, Dieudonne Tougfo, announced additional support from the town hall to improve the health conditions of the wounded. This gesture, he said, reflects the commitment of the municipality to accompany its Armed Forces in their noble mission of defending the territory.