Bobo-dioulasso: Lieutenant-Colonel Emile Soudre officially assumed command of the National Gendarmerie's Schools and Training Centers (CECPGN) on Friday, January 23, 2026. The formal change-of-command ceremony took place at Camp Kuinima in Bobo-Dioulasso, attended by several civil and military authorities.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was marked by solemnity and military discipline, with the presence of the Secretary General of the Guiriko Region, Souleymane Nakanabo, representing the Governor, and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Issa Yaguibou. Numerous officers, non-commissioned officers, and personnel from the training schools were also in attendance.

Lieutenant-Colonel Emile Soudre succeeded Colonel Mamadou Coulibaly, who has been reassigned to other duties. Lieutenant-Colonel Soudre now holds a strategic position pivotal to the National Gendarmerie's training and professional development system.

In his address, Lieutenant-Colonel Soudre expressed gratitude to his superiors for their trust. He emphasized the importance of training in building a disciplined, professional force capable of addressing the multifaceted security challenges linked to the current geopolitical environment.

This appointment occurs in a challenging security context, where enhancing operational capabilities, modernizing training programs, and adapting to new threats are priorities for the Defense and Security Forces.

As head of the Schools and Advanced Training Centers, Lieutenant-Colonel Soudre will focus on consolidating achievements, continuing the modernization process, and fostering ongoing professional development of National Gendarmerie personnel to better prepare them for the country's operational realities.