Ouagadougou — Burkina Faso’s military strength has received a significant boost following the delivery of a large batch of Chinese-made military equipment to enhance the country’s fight against terrorism and defend its territorial integrity.
The handover ceremony, held on 10 October, was presided over by the country’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who officially presented the equipment to various elite units of the Burkinabe Armed Forces.
According to the Burkinabe Presidency, the new consignment includes sophisticated armoured vehicles and artillery systems that will be deployed to frontline units combating extremist groups across the Sahel region.
The military hardware—acquired from China’s state-owned defence manufacturer, Norinco—comprises:
Six VN22B 105mm fire support vehicles
Four SR5 multiple rocket launchers with two associated ammunition resupply vehicles
Six SM6/WMA09 120mm self-propelled mortars
Two WZ551-based command vehicles
Six DongFeng EQ2050 (Mengshi) armoured vehicles
The Presidency noted that the new armoured vehicles are equipped with laser-guided missile systems, further strengthening Burkina Faso’s capacity for precision strikes and rapid response.
The equipment has been assigned to specialized military formations, including the Rapid Intervention Field Artillery Battalion (BACIR) and the Rapid Intervention Armoured Battalion (BBIR)—both at the forefront of counter-terrorism operations.
Captain Traoré, who personally supervised the delivery, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equipping the armed forces with modern tools necessary to secure the nation and protect its citizens from insurgent attacks.
The acquisition underscores Burkina Faso’s deepening defence cooperation with China, as the West African nation continues to diversify its international partnerships in pursuit of military self-reliance.
The latest handover follows a series of reforms initiated by Traoré since he assumed power in 2022, aimed at reorganizing and strengthening the Burkinabe military amid ongoing security challenges in the Sahel.
