A recent TikTok post made on September 19, 2026, claims to show armored vehicles being manufactured in Burkina Faso. The video shows military vehicles on display with a voiceover stating that the country is producing defense equipment locally, including armored vehicles. However, PesaCheck, a fact-checking initiative, has found the post to be partially false.
An image search on Yandex led to a video indicating that the footage is from an exhibition by BMC at IDEF 2025. It appears that BMC showcased a right-hand drive version of its legendary mine-resistant armored vehicle, the Kirpi II. This suggests that the vehicles in the video are not manufactured in Burkina Faso.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicles showcased in the post are actually manufactured in Turkey. A publication dated July 26, 2025, confirms that the vehicles were presented at the International Defense Industry Exhibition, IDEF 2025, in Turkey. Another publication from July 23, 2025, announces the domestic armored vehicle of Turkey with a domestic engine.
In contrast, a search on Google using the keywords "armored vehicles manufactured in Burkina Faso" revealed that Faso Armor, a Burkinabè company, is leading the production of Nanga-type armored vehicles for the country's defense and security forces. This indicates that while Burkina Faso is involved in armored vehicle production, the specific vehicles in the TikTok post are not.
PesaCheck is part of a series of fact-checking initiatives aimed at examining content marked as potential disinformation on social media platforms. The organization partners with Facebook and similar social media platforms to help distinguish facts from fiction. This is achieved by providing the public with a deeper understanding and context of the posts they see on their social media feeds.
The fact-checking process involves verifying suspicious content and providing accurate information to the public. PesaCheck's work is crucial in the fight against misinformation, and the organization has been recognized for its efforts in promoting transparency and accountability. The initiative was co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein and is incubated by Code for Africa.
The article was written by fact-checker Françoise Dembélé, edited by Josaphat Finogbé, and approved for publication by Doreen Wainainah, the editor-in-chief at PesaCheck. The verification process is part of PesaCheck's efforts to help the public separate reality from fiction in public statements about figures that shape our world, with a focus on public finances.
Key points
- The TikTok post claiming to show armored vehicles manufactured in Burkina Faso is partially false.
- The vehicles in the post are actually manufactured in Turkey and showcased at IDEF 2025.
- Faso Armor, a Burkinabè company, is leading the production of armored vehicles in Burkina Faso.
