Reconquest of national territory: Security requires more resources

2023-12-12 08:07:55

• To equip, train and deploy troops

• A war communications strategy in 2024

• ALT deputies asked for an increase in the budget

AUnder the 2024 budget forecast, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (MATDS) requested, on November 17, 2023, from the MPs who are members of COMIFIB, a specific opening in the budget of the State fiscal year 2024.

This request, according to Emile Zerbo, is explained, on the one hand, because of the specific needs of the department in the development of the 2024 budget, in order to ensure better security of cities and countryside. And on the other hand, confront the increase in terrorist attacks and community conflicts, through the creation of mobile units. Also, the minister pleaded for a significant increase in his department’s budget to facilitate the care of personnel deployed across the national territory. This significant financial support concerns mobile intervention units, positioned in strategic areas of the police and gendarmerie. The minister in charge of security stressed that this massive redeployment of intervention units had had repercussions on the number of men on the ground. Thus, he mentioned, to overcome this difficulty of manpower on the ground, the transitional government authorized the recruitment of 2,000 student police non-commissioned officers for the year 2023. Magistrate Emile Zerbo revealed that the recruitment process was underway, but that the assessment of the financial needs necessary for their training had not been taken into account in the draft budget for 2024 which was sent to the ALT. To resolve this problem, the minister in charge of security requested support from deputies for a specific opening in the state budget, financial year 2024, in order to ensure the training and equipment of these internal security forces.

The Minister of Communication pleads for an increase in the budget

In war strategy, there is not only weapons to annihilate the enemy, there is also war communication.

On this aspect, the transitional government intends to raise the level by adopting a “robust” war communications strategy. This communication strategy was explained to the deputies who are members of the Finance and Budget Committee (COMFIB) of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT), on November 7, 2023, by the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. “A war communications strategy is developed and accompanies the operation to reconquer national territory. This communication should intensify in 2024, also with the aim of promoting social cohesion and solidarity between the Burkinabè,” he mentioned. This war communication strategy will use the channels of the musical sectors, plastic art, cinema, etc. to better inform and raise awareness among the Burkinabè. On the contribution of culture in resolving the current security crisis, the minister is firm: “the military will win the war but it is culture that will win the peace”.

For the trained journalist, the effective holding of various cultural and sporting events such as the Pan-African Cinema and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), the International Crafts Fair of Ouagadougou (SIAO), the National Week of culture (SNC), the Ouagadougou International Book Fair (FILO), the Tour du Faso is a victory for the Burkinabe people against terrorist tendencies. For him, the organization of these major meetings is proof that Burkina Faso remains a privileged and recommended destination. To consolidate these gains in visibility of the country of honest men and adopt the war communications strategy, the minister called for a significant increase in the 2024 program budget.

Which budget, validated by Parliament, will allow the ministry to also undertake the land security of tourist sites, the restructuring of the creative cultural industries sector, the construction of infrastructure, the acquisition of logistical materials and equipment, etc. .o

Ambéternifa Crépin SOMDA

Boxed

The different phases of developing the State Budget

LThe State Budget, fiscal year 2024, will be ratified no later than December 31, 2024, through the anointing of the majority of ALT deputies. During this phase of the budget session, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Foresight, Dr Aboubakar Nacanabo, will defend the merits of the said budget. But before this stage, the authorizers of the program budget, who are the ministers and the presidents of institutions, appeared in November 2023, before the MPs who are members of COMIFIB. This was preceded from July 24 to 30, 2023, by the consolidation of the preliminary draft budget before being examined by the Council of Ministers. On July 21, 2023, the teams of the Budget Arbitration Commission examined the mid-term review of the execution of the 2023 budget and the multi-annual expenditure programming document for 2024-2026. The exercise saw ministries and institutions take turns reviewing the execution of their 2023 budget and arbitrating the 2024 preliminary draft budget. The work of the Budget Arbitration Commission constitutes an important step in the process of developing the State Budget. It comes after the preparatory technical meetings.o