Burkina Faso's ENSOG graduates 300 new gendarmes

The 52nd promotion of the Ecole nationale des sous-officiers de la gendarmerie (ENSOG), named ‘Kawgu’ (meaning ‘Victory’ in Fulfuldé), completed its training in Bobo-Dioulasso on September 11, 2026.

The group consists of 300 new gendarmes, including 15 women, who have transitioned from civilian life to military service. The ceremony, attended by Minister of State, Minister of War and Patriotic Defense General Célestin Simporé, marked the official integration of these personnel into the national gendarmerie to support territorial reconquest and counter-terrorism efforts.

During their two-year training, students underwent rigorous physical and professional evaluations, including a demanding three-month bivouac in Logofourousso. The new non-commissioned officers received their corporal stripes as they prepare for operational deployment.