Burkina Faso has announced plans to recruit and train 100,000 civilian reservists by the end of 2026 as part of a major expansion of its armed forces amid ongoing conflict with armed insurgent groups.
The announcement was made by the country’s defense leadership on Saturday, as authorities seek to strengthen national security and support the military’s campaign against extremist organizations operating across the region.
According to the plan, all citizens of fighting age will undergo military training and may be called up to serve in reserve forces when required, particularly in times of security crises or humanitarian emergencies.
The military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré since the September 2022 coup, has struggled to contain persistent violence linked to armed groups affiliated with both al-Qaeda and ISIS, which have caused thousands of deaths over the past decade.
Burkina Faso has increasingly relied on civilian volunteers to support its armed forces, although these auxiliary forces have also suffered significant casualties in attacks.
Defense Minister General Célestin Simporé said the initiative forms part of what he described as a national mobilization effort, aimed at strengthening the country’s defensive capacity and ensuring broader civilian participation in national security.
He confirmed that 100,000 reservists will be recruited and trained by the end of 2026, though further operational details have not yet been disclosed.
Like neighboring Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso’s military government has distanced itself from former colonial power France and several Western allies, instead strengthening political and military ties with Russia as part of a wider geopolitical realignment in the Sahel region.
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