Burkina Faso increases defense budget by nearly 50 per cent for 2023

Burkina Faso authorities have budgeted $1.09 billion for defense expenditure this year, an increase of 49.43 per cent compared to last year, to address security concerns caused by terrorism activities.

The West African country has been grappling with insecurity caused by terrorists and a political instability.

The central government has lost around 40 per cent of the territory to terror groups. In power since September 2022 following a coup, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has vowed to improve the logistics of the army to counter terrorists who seemed better equipped than the country’s own forces.

The country last month acquired military equipment including drones and armored vehicles worth around $415 million to beef up the army’s capacity in the fight against terrorism.

The equipment are already in use and are reported very efficient amid an ongoing offensive against militants. Also last month, the West African country resumed diplomatic ties with North Korea as Ouagadougou seeks Pyongyang’s military support to overcome insecurity.

Olivia Roumba, the country’s top diplomat following a cabinet meeting which decided the move indicated that “the resumption of diplomatic relations with North Korea will enable this East Asian country and Burkina Faso to maintain exemplary bilateral cooperation in several areas such as the security sector, through the granting to our country of military equipment and materials, mining, health, agriculture and research sectors.”

Burkina Faso officially severed ties with the Asian country in 2017 following a recommendation of the United Nations to all member countries as part of sanctions on Pyongyang.