Burkina Faso vows to tackle threat posed by self-defense groups

Burkina Faso authorities have adopted measures aimed at restoring state authority which has been greatly threatened by violence committed by self-defense militia groups, especially in rural areas.

In a statement released on Monday, Burkina Faso's Security Minister Simon Compaore warned self-defense militia groups against defying state authority and using illegal methods on the ground.

Compaore noted that individuals, under the guise of fighting against insecurity or responding to an alleged act of impunity, continue to engage in reprehensible acts in flagrant violation of laws that guide the society.

He said that henceforth, perpetrators of these acts will expose themselves to legal proceedings and punishment provided under the law.

He said the self-defense groups were prohibited from illegally detaining anyone, subjecting anyone to humiliation or charging them any fines.

He urged people working under self-defense groups commonly referred to as "koglweogo" to understand that possession of weapons should conform to the set guidelines in Burkina Faso.

The statement equally banned the groups from walking around with weapons or blunt objects.

Koglweogo committees were created by rural populations to tackle rising cases of crime, and to cover for the shortage of security forces in some of those regions.

However, the brutality of their methods has raised concerns among a section of the society and human rights defenders. Enditem