Source : Sahel weather February 2025

Download the full Sahel weather report 

In Burkina Faso, the question of leaving ECOWAS is still in the news, since the decision was taken with Mali and Niger. The issue of mobility within this regional area is a source of concern for many observers. For this reason, ESA ministerial delegations met in Bamako on February 22 and 23 to discuss the urgent need to open talks with their ECOWAS counterparts on the free movement of people and goods. The leaders of the three countries say they are "ready to negotiate in a constructive spirit". However, the confederation's passport was announced with great fanfare, as was the organization's new flag.

Meanwhile, the waves of support for Captain Traoré continue across the country. This time, it was the turn of the people of Markoye who marched on February 22 to show their support for the President of the transition, the FDS and the leaders of the AES. This peaceful demonstration was attended by thousands of Burkinabè living in a locality facing security and socio-economic challenges. This community, among many others, is looking to the current regime for solutions to their problems. 

On the security front, terrorist attacks continue to disturb the sleep of the population, despite a marked decline in recent months. In early February, the town of Djibo was the scene of a violent terrorist attack claimed by the Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans (JNIM). For several years now, the town has been "blockaded" by this armed group, which often carries out atrocities there. In 2024, the jihadists' ultimatum caused many of Djibo's inhabitants to flee. This raises the nagging issue of territorial control. The authorities have deployed heavy artillery to confront the jihadists and reconquer the territory, much of which is beyond their control. Captain Traoré has made this territorial reconquest a priority.

According to Brigadier General Célestin Simporé, the rate of occupation and reconquest of the territory is around 71%. A great step forward compared to the situation three years ago. He took advantage of the tribute paid to the fighting forces on February 14, 2025, to assert that the war is far from over. According to him, "...even if the terrorist groups are weakened on all levels, namely logistically and psychologically. We are not yet at the end of the tunnel. We are well aware of this. He is therefore aware of the scale of the terrorist threat, and reaffirms the government's firm resolve to intensify efforts in the fight against the advance of terrorism.

On the ground, the armed forces continue to inflict heavy losses on the terrorist groups present in the country. For example, an operation by the 10th Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR 10), based in Dédougou, and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) countered an attack on February 8. This large-scale operation resulted in the recovery of a significant quantity of weapons and equipment. Over the past few months, these sweep operations have been continuing, and have enabled terrorist attacks to be thwarted.

Surveillance stepped up around the entry and exit of is also being foreigners. At the Council of Ministers meeting on March 12, the government adopted the implementing decree for the law of February 22, 2024 on managing migratory flows. Prior to this, members of parliament had unanimously adopted the draft law which will set the conditions for the entry and residence of foreigners, and for the exit of nationals and foreigners from the national territory. According to the authorities, this law will strengthen the legal and institutional framework for managing migratory flows in Burkina Faso, and contribute to an effective fight against terrorism and all other forms of organized crime. Observers fear that its application will lead to reciprocity on the part of regional countries. 

In addition, the double-attack of March 2018 saw a rebound this early in the year in Burkina Faso. Indeed, the headquarters of the Burkinabe armed forces and the French embassy in Ouagadougou were the targets of these attacks, resulting in almost 10 deaths and several injuries. Recently, on February 26, three people were sentenced to life imprisonment following the verdict of the judicial division specialized in the repression of terrorist acts by the Tribunal de Grande Instance. They were charged with "terrorist acts", "complicity in murder" and "complicity in attempted murder".