The Burkinabé government, resulting from a putsch, intends to mobilize 152 million euros for a "
war support fund
" against the jihadism that has struck Burkina Faso since 2015.
This support fund "
should enable us to raise 100 billion CFA francs (152 million euros) for the year
" 2023, declared Friday, December 9 the Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubacar Nacanabo, at the resulting from a meeting between the president of the transition Ibrahim Traoré, Burkinabe employers and social partners.
Weapons, clothing, gear, fuel...
"
As part of the fight against terrorism, the government has decided to recruit 50,000 Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP, civilian auxiliaries of the army) who will be paid 60,000 FCFA per month", or 91 euros,
a- he recalled.
"
In addition to this support, there are weapons to pay for to equip them, outfits for their clothing, gear and fuel for their travels
," said Aboubacar Nacanabo.
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In addition to the "
voluntary contributions
" which "
will not be enough
", there is "
the idea of a levy of 1% on the net salary of all workers, including MPs, to support the fight against terrorism
" , as well as taxes on the consumption of certain products, such as drink, tobacco, internet connection and luxury goods, he said.
On December 1, the Burkinabe Prime Minister, Apollinaire Kiélem de Tembela, had asked France for “
weapons and ammunition
” for the army auxiliaries, during a meeting with the French ambassador to Burkina Faso.
Multiplication of attacks
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been regularly bereaved by jihadist attacks that have killed thousands and forced some two million people to flee their homes.
These attacks by groups linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda targeting soldiers and civilians have multiplied in recent months, mainly in the north and east of the country.
Read alsoUndermined by jihadism, Burkina Faso threatens to collapse
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, transitional president resulting from a military coup on September 30 - the second in eight months - has set himself the objective of "
recapturing the territory occupied by these hordes of terrorists
".
Following a recruitment campaign, 90,000 civilians signed up to join the VDP, called upon to assist the army in its fight against the jihadists.