Ouagadougou: The People’s Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a law on Tuesday, establishing the status of the military reserve in Burkina Faso. This legislation grants the Ministry of War and Patriotic Defense the authority to organize the nation’s forces more effectively to confront current security challenges.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the law provides the Ministry of Defence a legal framework to manage the military reserve, allowing for better organization and efficient deployment of forces. The Minister of War, Major General Celestin Simpore, highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting that it enables all Burkinabe citizens, regardless of gender, who meet physical, medical, and psychological standards, to contribute to national defense.

Major General Simpore emphasized the necessity of preparing for various potential situations in a world where power dynamics frequently shift, stating, “In a world where alliances are made and broken, where force now prevails over law,” it was crucial to take comprehensive measures.

The new law categorizes reservists into two groups: first-class reservists with prior military experience, and second-class reservists drawn from the general population who fulfill specific criteria. Minister Simpore expressed his satisfaction with the legislative support for the bill and anticipated its signing into law. He was optimistic about reaching the government’s goal of enlisting 100,000 reservists, citing the substantial number of retired defense and security personnel.

Minister Simpore reassured that, in addition to professionals from security and defense sectors, the recruitment drive would engage the broader population to fill the ranks, thereby strengthening the nation’s defense capabilities.