Ouagadougou: The President of Faso, Head of State, Comrade Captain Ibrahim Traor©, presided over the ceremony for the presentation of epaulettes to the Active Duty Officer Cadets (EOA) of the 25th class of the Georges Namoano Military Academy (AMGN), named ‘Lieutenant Sawadogo Alexandre Bienvenu’ in honor of an officer who fell in February 2022.
According to Burkina Information Agency, a total of 217 new sub-lieutenants, including 199 Burkinabe and 18 from nine allied countries, successfully completed 21 months of rigorous training with an average score of 14.28/20. These international cadets hailed from nations such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, and Togo.
The ceremony, sponsored by Brigadier General Kassoum Coulibaly, former Minister of Defense and current Ambassador to the United States, marked the first time it was conducted at the New Academy site. This site boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories, a 500-seat amphitheater, and a modern cafeteria, which will facilitate future training sessions.
In a show of cultural pride, the new officers wore traditional Gourmantch© loincloths, symbolizing the completion of their initiation rites. Major General Moussa Diallo, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, commended the cadets’ performance and urged them to exhibit exemplary leadership by avoiding “ease, arrogance, corruption, and betrayal.”
Lieutenant-Colonel William Desmond Bagu©ra, Commandant of the Academy, highlighted the realization of a promise to hold the ceremony at the new site, signifying the nation’s commitment to addressing current security challenges. He encouraged the graduates to lead with dignity and inspire their men.
Class representative Abdallah C©dric Ki reflected on their intensive training, which included combat marksmanship and operational intelligence. He assured the new second lieutenants’ readiness to defend national sovereignty and paid homage to a fellow cadet who lost his life during training, as well as expressing gratitude to the people of Nahouri for their support.