Mouhoun: Camp Nazi Boni in Dedougou hosted a flag presentation ceremony for the first wave of the exceptional 2025 class recruits trained at the regional military training center of the 5th Military Region. The event attracted administrative, military, paramilitary, traditional, and religious authorities, along with the families and friends of the recruits.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this ceremony, held amid ongoing security challenges, aims to bolster the operational capacities of the National Armed Forces. The integration of new personnel from the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP) is seen as a step towards enhancing the defense and reconquest of the national territory.
The contingent, consisting of 925 members from the VDP ranks in the administrative regions of Bankui and Sourou, pledged to serve the Nation with honor and loyalty. They committed to defending territorial integrity and protecting populations, even at the cost of their lives.
Lieutenant-Colonel Idrissa Sosthene Coulibaly, Commander of the 5th Military Region, addressed the new soldiers, emphasizing their transition from recruits to soldiers. He highlighted the significance of the flag as a symbol of unity and sacrifice, urging them to serve with loyalty and fidelity.
The ceremony marked a pivotal moment in the soldiers' journey, signifying their official integration into the national armed forces and the completion of their initial military training. This integration empowers them to assume operational responsibilities in various theaters of engagement.
Captain Olivier S. Kabore, Commander of the regional training center, outlined the pillars of the Initial Military Training (IMT): physical preparation, discipline, and social values. The training aimed to enhance endurance, resistance, and self-control, while fostering respect, cohesion, and solidarity.
Addressing the recruits, Captain Kabore reminded them of their transition to full-fledged soldiers, emphasizing the ongoing nature of their learning in the field. He congratulated them on their courage and commitment to serving the country.
On behalf of his peers, soldier Alassane Ouedraogo expressed gratitude to the country's authorities for integrating them into the national armed forces. Proud of their training, the graduating class declared their readiness to defend the country.
The ceremony, characterized by solemnity and sobriety, featured symbolic presentations and military demonstrations. Authorities present praised the commitment of the new recruits and offered their congratulations, wishing them success in their future missions for the reconquest of the national territory and the consolidation of peace and security in Burkina Faso.