Burkina Faso: National security, Minister Mahamadou Sana’s commitment to security and the reconquest of territory
Appointed to lead the Ministry of Security in a complex security context, Divisional Police Commissioner Mahamadou SANA is making his mark with a clear roadmap: integrated security, empowered forces, and exemplary governance to support the reconquest of the national territory. The results achieved in just over a year testify to a Security sector undergoing profound transformation.
Tasked with injecting new momentum, Minister Sana quickly established the foundations of an action plan based on performance and accountability.
The proof is in the numbers: evaluated on February 2, 2026, against his 2025 objectives, his department posted a achievement rate of 95.30%.
A performance praised by the Prime Minister, demonstrating that the security apparatus is fully operational.
This remarkable achievement rate rests on seven major concrete actions implemented.
On the operational front, the minister intensified the fight against serious crime through operations “Wibga” and “Ladéli,” which resulted in a 0.62% decrease in the crime rate.
Simultaneously, public access to administrative documents has been considerably enhanced. In 2025, nearly 1.5 million Burkinabe national identity cards (CNIB) and more than 90,000 passports were produced.
A major breakthrough was also achieved with the operationalization of the AES passport and AES CNIB as of January 2026, a powerful symbol of regional integration.
Minister Sana does not merely manage urgent matters; he structures the future. On March 6, 2026, he chaired the first session of the Ministerial Sector Board of Directors (CASEM) on the theme of “the integrated approach to internal security.”
The objective is clear: achieving optimal territorial coverage by leveraging synergy of actions and interoperability of information systems.
This integrated vision also involves a major structural reform: the attachment of the Water and Forestry Corps to his department.
An additional asset to strengthen forest and fisheries security, while also controlling areas that were previously less covered.
For Minister Sana, the reconquest of the territory cannot be conceived without impeccable governance.
On March 3, 2026, he issued a solemn appeal to internal control bodies: corruption is incompatible with the sacrifice made by our fighters on the front lines.
Demanding rigorous controls and uncompromising sanctions, he makes integrity a sine qua non condition for operational effectiveness.
“Defeating the external enemy is difficult if our own structures are weakened,” he stressed.
A strong message which, combined with operational results, paints the portrait of a technical minister, demanding and resolutely focused on the ultimate objective: making Burkina Faso safe across its entire territory.
Cédric KABORE
