Civil liberties groups have expressed concerns over the forced conscription of three civil society leaders into volunteer regiments to fight militias in Burkina Faso.
President Ibrahim Traoré had directed that a local civil society activist who had been upset about an attack in Kaya. Kaya city is about 100km north-east of the capital, Ouagadougou be drafted into the counterinsurgency group.
Traoré visited Kaya, a few days after a water plant that supplied the area came under attack.
The civil society member had deplored the lack of security in the region, the military government directed that he be conscripted to join the armed Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP).
Some days later, two other civil society figures in Ouagadougou called a press briefing where they criticised the lack of progress in the fight against the insurgents and called for the dissolution of the government. They were also enlisted into the volunteer force, driving divided opinion among residents.
The authorities say they are working hard to unite the security forces while human rights defenders fear that freedom of expression is in danger.
Volunteer fighters have been called upon in recent years as Burkina Faso battles worsening security situations.
