Authorities in Burkina Faso are searching for a member of the Volunteer for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) accused of a fatal attack in Nandiala, highlighting a rare case of alleged criminal conduct within a force central to the country’s fight against jihadist insurgencies.
Security services have issued a search warrant for Grégoire Zongo, suspected of killing his 18-year-old girlfriend and seriously injuring her mother on Monday, August 18, 2025, in Nandiala, located in Boulkiemdé province, according to the Burkina Information Agency (AIB).
The suspect is reported to have used his issued Kalashnikov during the attack before fleeing the scene. Born on September 3, 1999, in Nandiala, he is approximately 1.65 meters tall with a black complexion. Authorities are urging anyone with information to report to defence and security forces to aid in his capture.
The incident comes amid the broader context of Burkina Faso’s reliance on VDPs as key auxiliaries in combating jihadist groups. Originally established under President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the VDP programme has been strengthened under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, with increased recruitment and improved allowances to support the national army.
General Moussa Diallo, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, visited the VDP Brigade on April 8, 2025, praising their contributions and describing them as “indispensable actors” in the fight against insecurity. He emphasised that these volunteers must serve as models of discipline, loyalty, and patriotism, citing the example of Ladji Yoro as a standard for others.
While VDPs play a crucial role in Burkina Faso’s security apparatus, this case underscores the challenges of maintaining oversight and accountability within a force that operates in high-risk environments and often possesses military-grade weapons. Authorities face the dual task of capturing the suspect and preserving public trust in an auxiliary programme that remains central to the country’s efforts to counter armed insurgencies.
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