Regiment of Trees

The Presidential Security Regiment (French: Régiment de la sécurité présidentielle, RSP) was an elite praetorian guard unit responsible for the security and protection of the President of Burkina Faso. It was an independent branch and separate from the Army of Burkina Faso. The elite unit was well known for its frequent involvement in the politics of Burkina Faso, acting as the iron fist of former President Blaise Compaoré during his 27-year rule over the country. They were said to be widely feared by many people in the country, which in 2012 – two years prior to the overthrow of Compaoré's government – was described by the Democracy Index as an "authoritarian regime". Following the 2014 Burkinabé uprising, on 1 November 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Yacouba Isaac Zida – deputy commander of the RSP – briefly took over as Acting President following Compaoré's ouster. Later in the month, Zida was named Prime Minister. On 16 September 2015, after its disbandment was recommended, the RSP staged another coup that took Michel Kafando and his government hostage. The Army stepped in, and Kafando was reinstated on 23 September. The Presidential Security Regiment was disbanded, as previously recommended, on 25 September 2015.