Bobo-Dioulasso Air Base became the staging ground for a strategic military advancement as Burkina Faso graduated its second cohort of Tactical Air Guidance Specialists (GATA) on April 10, 2025.
The 41 newly certified operatives – drawn from elite units including the Rapid Intervention Battalion and Special Forces – completed a grueling two-month program to master precision strike coordination between ground troops and aerial assets (fighter jets, helicopters, drones).
This specialized force represents Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s security doctrine in action: developing indigenous capabilities to reduce reliance on foreign military support.
The GATA teams will serve as force multipliers by:
• Minimizing civilian casualties through real-time target verification
• Enhancing mission success rates via integrated air-ground communications
• Accelerating response times to terrorist movements
President Traoré, who has prioritized military modernization since taking office, framed the initiative as part of Burkina Faso’s « sovereign security roadmap. »
With terrorist groups increasingly using civilian shields, the GATA program could prove decisive in the ongoing campaign to reclaim occupied territories.
Papa IBRAHIMA
