Yagha: The governor of the Koulse region, Colonel-Major Z. Blaise Ouedraogo, commended the progress made in 2025 in all areas of the struggle for freedom, sovereignty, and dignity on Thursday, January 1, 2026. In his New Year's message, he called on the region's key stakeholders to maintain and strengthen their mobilization efforts in the face of the terrorist threat.

According to Burkina Information Agency, from a security perspective, the regional authority presented the recapture of territory in the Koulse region as a significant achievement. "The return of several previously displaced villages to their original locations is increasingly a factual reality," noted the governor, who believes that this return strengthens the hope of an imminent victory against terrorism.

He nevertheless urges increased vigilance. He warns: "The enemy, in a final, desperate standoff, is still capable of macabre acts." Colonel-Major Ouedraogo then expressed his gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He paid tribute to the FDS and the VDP and expressed his hope that "2026 will be the last year of terrorism in our region and in Burkina Faso."

Speaking particularly to young people, he called on them to become aware of their role, inviting them to educate themselves, to take ownership of the history of Burkina Faso, and to refuse easy gain. Addressing development and sovereignty issues, the governor warned against tensions "created from scratch to distract us", to the detriment of "real challenges" such as "development, food security, and access to knowledge."

Also warning against stigmatizing speech, he called for "stopping the linguistic drift now" which, according to him, can lead to irreparable violence and weaken social cohesion. Highlighting the resilience of the returning populations, the governor congratulated the decentralized administrative and technical services of the State, as well as humanitarians and development associations.

He also praised the "discreet and silent" role of customary and religious authorities, before paying tribute to the media, while inviting them to strengthen their social responsibility in the service of peace.