Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso commemorated, this Saturday, November 1, 2025, the 65th anniversary of the creation of the National Armed Forces, during a solemn military parade under the theme: “National Armed Forces engaged with the people in the progressive and popular revolution for a sovereign defense of the territory.” The ceremony, presided over by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, was marked by a speech from the Minister of Defense, who paid tribute to the pioneers and all those involved in national defense, past and present.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister of State honored the memory of the predecessors and veterans who laid the foundations of the national army from the very first days of independence. He honored the memory of all the heroes who fell on the field of honor, victims of the barbarity of the forces of evil, before inviting the audience to observe a minute of silence in their tribute. “Their sacrifice compels us, and their memory remains the flame of our collective commitment,” he declared.
He emphasized the renewed symbiosis between the people and their army, stressing that this sacred union, inherited from the revolutionary spirit of Comrade Captain Thomas Sankara, is the key to victory against all forms of domination and imperialism. ‘A strong army is one understood and supported by its people,’ he stated, calling for strengthened trust between the armed forces and the population.
The minister then reviewed recent reforms and achievements within the National Armed Forces. He highlighted the operational strengthening of the combat forces, the creation of new units adapted to the realities on the ground, the acquisition of major logistical resources, the pooling of defense efforts within the framework of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), the establishment of a training institute for the national military elite, the improvement of living conditions for military personnel and their families, and the development of patriotic youth through the presidential patriotic immersion initiative and the “Faso Mebo” summer camp.
He also commended the implementation of the Patriotic Support Fund, a tool for public support that enables the financing and equipping of the combat forces. The Minister urged the National Armed Forces, the internal security forces, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), and the civilian population to continue the joint struggle for the sovereign defense of the territory. “It is together that we will triumph,” he declared, before adding: “Victory belongs to dignified, courageous, and united peoples. Our people, upright and proud heirs of those who resisted colonial penetration, will never renounce their freedom.”
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, in turn, recalled that Burkinabe soldiers have never bowed down to an adversary. According to him, the current war constitutes a new test that highlights the strength, professionalism, and courage of the national army. “The army is the embodiment of the people. It is together that we are waging this fight for the liberation and true sovereignty of Burkina Faso,” he affirmed, convinced that the union of the people and the army will guarantee a certain victory.
The head of government concluded by calling for continued progress toward peace, development, and the well-being of the people within the South African Economic and Monetary Community (SAEC).