FDS, including the Bataillons d’Intervention Rapide (BIR). Junta of Capt. Ibrahim Traoré since Sep 2022; mass VDP mobilisation; repeated documented massacres of civilians (HRW). Broke diplomatic relations with France 26 Jun 2026. JNIM controls or contests a large share of the territory.
Leader(s): Capt. Ibrahim Traoré
Origin: Burkina Faso
Recent (to 21 Oct 2026)
- Accused of the Alkoma reprisal killings (Aug 2026) (4 Aug). 8 Aug: residents reported heavy-weapons fire at the Ouezzin Coulibaly camp in Bobo-Dioulasso; no explanation found (C4, Faytuks News Discord (west-africa-sahel) via @abousaib, x.com/abousaib/status/2086222123207463230, 8 Aug 2026).
- Resource sites: escorts the Essakane gold mine supply convoys (4 Aug 2026 IED at Sambonaye); the state took Boungou gold mine and Wahgnion gold mine into SOPAMIB (Jun 2025).
Relationships
- Commands: VDP (Burkina Faso)
- Partners with: Africa Corps
- Formerly hosted: Bear Brigade
- Fights: JNIM
- Fights: Ansarul Islam
- Fights: ISSP
- Member of: AES Unified Force
- Member of: AES Confederation
Referenced by
- Africa Corps (Partners with)
- Alkoma reprisal killings (Aug 2026) (Accused perpetrator)
- Bear Brigade (Contracted by)
- Boungou gold mine (Nationalised by)
- Essakane gold mine (Escorted by)
- ISSP (Fights)
- JNIM (Fights)
- VDP (Burkina Faso) (Auxiliary of)