Bam: The territorial gendarmerie brigade of Kongoussi has officially vacated the city, aligning with a new security reorganization strategy that delegates the protection responsibilities of urban centers to the national police. This shift is part of a broader strategy that aims to enhance security by deploying the gendarmerie more intensively in rural areas.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this reorganization adheres to the national security law, which stipulates that the national police is the primary force for judicial police duties in urban settings, while the gendarmerie is tasked with responsibilities in rural and departmental regions. The transition was marked by a formal handover ceremony, attended by Chief Commissioner Kito Yaya Soulama, the provincial director of the national police in Bam, and Lieutenant Zerbo Ousmane, the company commander of the gendarmerie in Bam.

Lieutenant Zerbo highlighted the transfer of judicial police duties to the national police, stating, "From now on, for any matter falling under the jurisdiction of the judicial police in Kongoussi, even a gendarme will have to refer to the national police." He assured continued gendarmerie presence in the city with the future arrival of a company and a squadron, emphasizing ongoing support for public safety missions in collaboration with the national police.

Furthermore, Lieutenant Zerbo announced the reassignment of personnel from the territorial brigade to other units, with a reinforced gendarmerie presence in the rural communes of Bam, such as Sabce, Rouko, Tikare, and Guibare. The central police station of Kongoussi will now take over the premises previously occupied by the brigade.

Chief Warrant Officer Achille Kouraogo, the outgoing brigade commander, commended the collaborative efforts with local authorities and residents during his tenure in Kongoussi. The Kongoussi gendarmerie, which had been operational since between 1964 and 1966, marks the end of an era with this strategic relocation.