2023-10-10 16:59:18
Members of the company “Security and Private Intervention Force” (FSIP) provided clarifications this Tuesday, October 10, 2023, on the incident that occurred in the town of Houndé on the night of September 26, 2023 where a team from their escort mission leaving for Banfora was targeted by demonstrators who accused them of being mercenaries coming from a neighboring country to destabilize the transition.
The rest after this ad
« Arriving in the town of Houndé, the mission will be stopped first by a first irregular checkpoint set up by civilian populations who were demonstrating, they say, in support of the authorities of the Burkinabe transition.
The team will be authorized to continue its journey after discussions with the demonstrators at this first roadblock. Our escort mission will come up against a second checkpoint still set up by demonstrators in the town of Houndé », explained Adjata Traoré, director of human resources at the FSIP.
She indicated that despite the explanations given by their colleagues, the demonstrators remained in their position and refused to give way. They have to spend the night here.
Adjata Traoré, director of human resources at FSIP
«Our team will spend the night at this second dam. The next day, September 27, around 3 a.m., the head of mission decided to contact the local national gendarmerie to help the team pass the second roadblock. It was an unsuccessful attempt, around 6 a.m., this time the team contacted the city’s national police hoping that this republican force could reason with the demonstrators.
This was also a failure. It should be noted that these security authorities (gendarmerie and police) first took care to check all the documents concerning the mission, in particular the mission order and the permits to carry weapons (two automatic pistols and two shotguns). 12 gauge guns were in the vehicle, vests, etc.)“, she said.
Adjata Traoré maintained that all their colleagues’ documents were complete and in order. “In reality, these demonstrators thought they had got their hands on a group of mercenaries coming from a neighboring country to destabilize the transition regime.
Not having been convinced by the arguments of the gendarmerie and the national police, the demonstrators proceeded on September 27 in the morning to ransack our vehicle. Our agents were also taken to task. Some hunted down like game to be slaughtered. One of ours was also injured“, she indicated.
According to him, their agents were saved thanks to the intervention of the defense and security forces who narrowly escaped. “ The Security and Private Intervention Force (FSIP) denies all accusations that our elements were mercenaries who attempted to carry out destabilizing actions. However, we would like to recall that the FSIP is a credible structure under Burkinabè law and well known to the competent authorities of Burkina Faso.,” added Adjata Traoré.
Ebenezer Dah, FSIP agent
As part of the mission, Ebenezer Dah was targeted by demonstrators who accused him of being an Ivorian citizen, according to him. “A gendarme came and searched everything, he reassured us that in the morning, a solution would be found. And in the morning, we went to the police, a policeman tried to reason with the crowd, it didn’t provide an answer to what the crowd wanted. We didn’t stay there until an officer came to try to start the vehicle to take it to the police station, then the crowd did not accept“, he related.
And to specify that “personally, they consider me an Ivorian that it was me who was sent by Alassane Ouattara to destabilize the regime (transition, editor’s note) despite the fact that I gave my documents, I gave my CNIB “, he testified.
advertisement
advertisement
#Security #Private #Intervention #Force #FSIP #denies #accusations #elements #mercenaries #Adjata #Traoré