Burkina Faso: Counterterrorism Efforts/These operations successfully conducted by the Mobile Intervention Units Group (GUMI)

The fight against terrorism is continuing apace, with President Ibrahim Traoré taking charge of the entire country. Offensive operations are being carried out by the fighting forces in several parts of the country.

A total of 11 police units have been deployed in several regions of the country. We take a closer look at these units and the missions they carried out in September.

Offensive reconnaissance, patrolling and securing the population, escorting, supplying and combing, securing the population in their activities are some of the operations carried out as part of the reconquest of the territory.

These operations were carried out jointly by the Groupement des Unités mobiles d’intervention (GUMI) and the Volontaires pour la défense de la Patrie (VDP) in coordination with the army.

The missions made it possible to secure and liberate localities such as Mogandé, in the commune of Bittou, in the Centre-East region, Koayo/Gossina, in the Mouhoun loop, Ipala, Hamdalaye/Tikaré, Tougan, Toma Pissila, Nassobdo/Tsiba and certain main roads, to name but a few.

During these operations, more than a hundred terrorists were neutralised and military equipment seized. More than 200 head of cattle were also recovered and returned to their owners.

During the same period, other intervention teams and fighting forces carried out offensives in the field. There were 300 patrol missions, 18 offensive reconnaissance missions and 11 escort and supply missions in the areas under jihadist control, Bogandé, Solenzo, Gossina, Tougan and Yamba.

For information, the Groupement des Unités mobiles d’Intervention (GUMI) was set up to support the police units already deployed in theatres of operation.

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