Western Accord 16 is underway in Burkina Faso

U.S. Army Africa and Burkina Faso military planners worked with representatives from 18 different countries to complete the final planning process for Western Accord 2016 March 21-25.

“The men sent my parents away at the point of their AK-47, then they raped me.”

Cynthia Petrigh, from Beyond Peace, discusses gender based violence at U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Commandant Ngarhordje Dedjiri and her colleague from Chad hear opening comments at the U.S. AFRICOM's Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Group photo of participants of the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Former African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha draws an African spear as an analogy to describe the challenge of executing peace operations where multiple systems of law are in use, and soldiers require the support of their command in confronting extraordinary logistical challenges." Mugisha delivered the keynote address at the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Legal Counsel to the Commander, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Marine Col. Donald Riley delivers comments at AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Deputy Chief of Legal Services for the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, Col. Godard Busingye, (left), and President of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL), Prof. Fausto Pocar at the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Staff and families get a view of new state of the art JOC.

From the catwalk – AFRICOM staff get a bird’s eye view inside AFRICOM’s new joint operations center during open house event, Feb. 5, 2016, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Ribbon cutting – (l-r) AFRICOM’s Director of Operations (J3), U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bryan Watson, Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Michael Franken, and JOC Chief, U.S. Navy Cdr. Tim Curry, cut the ribbon to an open house event for the new AFRICOM joint operations center, Feb. 5, 2016, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

The African Partner Outbreak Response Alliance, also known as APORA, met for the second time Aug. 11-13 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - Dr. Charles Beadling, director of the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, leads a group of APORA members in a small group discussion.

The Government of Burkina Faso, in partnership with the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP), successfully concluded day one of the Burkina Faso Disaster Preparedness and Response Exercise in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 14 July 2014.

Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, spent a week in June training and working with Economic of West African States militaries during Exercise Western Accord 14.

Burkinabe soldiers of the 25th Regiment Parachutist Commando Counterterrorism Company train with U.S. Army Africa’s Regionally Aligned Force, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Classroom and field exercised were featured during the recent train and equip event.

Burkina Faso Country Page

Representatives from civil authorities and the National Armed Forces of Burkina Faso met with representatives from the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM) and U.S. Africa Command's Disaster Preparedness Program in