Burkina Faso deploys elite air-ground coordination unit in counterterrorism push

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