The National Museum of Burkina Faso is hosting a unique exhibition of scrap metal sculptures honouring the country’s soldiers and civilian volunteers engaged in the fight against insurgents.
This artistic initiative sheds light on the daily lives of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), through combat scenes crafted from salvaged materials such as fuel tanks, exhaust pipes, tires, helmets, and other discarded objects.
The creator of the works, visual artist Sahab Kouanda, said the project—organised in partnership with the national museum—aims to pay tribute to those who risk their lives daily to protect the nation.
Attending the opening ceremony, Culture Minister Gilbert Ouédraogo praised the emotional power of the sculptures, stating that they “depict the current situation in Burkina Faso and offer moral support to the troops on the ground.”
For the past decade, Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency that began in the north and has since spread across large parts of the country. In response to the worsening security crisis, authorities have taken steps to bolster military capabilities.
Alongside increased troop deployments, the government launched the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) program—mobilising civilians to support regular forces in the most affected areas. This national effort reflects a collective response to the war on terror.
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