Tenkodogo: At 92 years old, veteran Nongma Ouandaogo shares his war memories and advice to the youth. The Delegation for Veterans and Former Military Personnel (DACAM) carried out on Thursday, in Poussouaka, a village located about 20 kilometers from Tenkodogo, the biographical census of Mr. Nongma Ouandaogo, 92 years old, veteran of the Algerian wars and the Burkina-Mali conflict of 1974. This initiative aims to preserve national military memory and to create a directory of the skills of veterans.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Nongma Ouandaogo was born around 1933 in Poussouaka, in the Boulgou province. He is one of the few Burkinabe survivors to have served successively in two armies: first in the French troops in Algeria in 1958, then in the national army where he took part in the war between Burkina Faso and Mali in 1974. Holder of an official combatant's card issued by the National Office for Veterans and Victims of War of France, the former soldier still remembers the painful moments experienced at the front.

"When you go out on patrol with 35 men and come back with only 7, it's not easy," he confides, his voice thick with emotion. The intensive use of binoculars, the endless marches, the nights spent in ambushes, and the successive losses of life remain etched in his memory, despite his advanced age. Despite these hardships, Nongma Ouandaogo gives thanks to God for his longevity. "If I'm still alive, it's thanks to my honesty, my frankness, my diligence, and the blessings of my parents," he emphasizes.

Warrant Officer Nadege Yameogo, in charge of protocol at DACAM and head of the census mission in the Nakambe region, explains that this operation is part of a larger national program. "We are registering veterans and retired military personnel to create a reliable directory of their identities, backgrounds, and skills. This allows DACAM to better guide them and better plan future projects," she explains.

In the Nakambe region, about thirty former soldiers have already been registered, in addition to Mr. Ouandaogo, who is currently the only veteran registered in Poussouaka. While the team was working in Tenkodogo and Poussouaka, other missions were deployed to Leo and Sapouy, and another is expected in Kaya. For the president of the Boulgou veterans' association, Mr. Guy Rene Zombre, the initiative is beneficial: "The simple fact of knowing that we have well-identified veterans already helps us enormously. The data collected will allow us to guide projects tailored to their profiles."

Before concluding the interview, Nongma Ouandaogo delivered a powerful message to the youth: "Work hard, respect your parents, do not deny your traditions, and be honest. The blessings of your elders will take you far."