Burkina Faso: Chief warrant officer disbarred for serious misconduct

Warrant Officer Dalibou Savadogo has been dismissed from the national defense forces. He is accused of embezzling 7,270,000 XOF (West African CFA francs), intended for the payment of operation bonuses for the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) in Samoragouan.

«Warrant Officer Savadogo Dalibou, enrollment number 3557 of the National Armed Forces, is dismissed from the ranks of the National Armed Forces for a fault deemed particularly serious, consisting of the fraudulent misappropriation of the sum of 7,260,000 XOF intended for the payment of operation bonuses for the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) in Samorogouan », reads the ministerial order signed on January 31, 2024, by the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Kassoum Coulibaly.

According to the authority, this malicious act has led to the demobilization of the VDP in this commune located in the Kénédougou province, about forty kilometers from Orodara.

During discussions on January 8, 2024, with the presidential staff, President Ibrahim Traoré promised a zero-tolerance approach for serious misconduct that would hinder the reconquest of territorial integrity.

This dismissal sets an example for those who believe that the war against terrorism opens up opportunities for misconduct.

In addition to this dismissal, many citizens hope for a trial and an exemplary conviction, which will serve as a lesson to all dishonest individuals seeking to sabotage the fight to regain control of the territory.

Cedric KABORE