Ouagadougou:The National Armed Forces (FAN) of Burkina Faso commenced their 66th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday with a cross-country race spanning 2,300 kilometers, followed by an aerobics session. This event, held in Ouagadougou, included 950 participants from various security and defense units, symbolizing unity in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the race route stretched from the Place de la Nation through the 2-Octobre roundabout, the Bataille du rail roundabout, along cobbled streets, and back to its starting point, involving over nine hundred defense and security personnel.

Colonel Moussa Coulibaly, commander of the Tiefo Amoro Higher Military Education Institute, emphasized the importance of sports in military life as a means of fostering unity. "By attacking the ground today with this stride, we wanted to show the civilian population that we are united behind the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, to defeat terrorism," he stated.

The celebrations will continue throughout the week, featuring various team-building activities and culminating on November 1st with a military parade and a decorations ceremony. In light of the current security challenges, Colonel Coulibaly urged all forces and the population to remain united and supportive of the authorities in the fight against terrorism.