Civilians to join military in fight against militia - Burkina Faso

Civilians in Burkina Faso will join in the battle against Islamic extremism amidst growing concerns of the country's military being outnumbered.

According to ABC News, the country's parliament approved legislation allowing the military to use civilian volunteers in the fight against Islamic extremism amid rising attacks across the West African country.

The tactic is not without risk. Burkina Faso's military has been criticized for killings carried out during its crackdown on extremism, and placing arms in the hands of minimally trained civilians could lead to more allegations of human rights abuses, observers warn.

Defense Minister Cheriff Sy said this week that all recruits would undergo two weeks of training, with topics ranging from how to use weapons to matters of discipline.

“It is not a question of making cannon fodder," he said. “We want to prevent these volunteers from becoming militias."

Volunteers must be 18 years old and will undergo a “moral investigation” before being allowed to serve, he said. Demobilization bonuses will be provided to each volunteer in an effort to reintegrate them in the future. Health benefits will be paid to those who are wounded while on duty, he added.

ABC