The Diébougou Military Cave: Dive into a Unique Historical Bunker
Discover the Diébougou Military Cave, nicknamed "Guerre Dinguê," a bunker dug between 1900 and 1914 by colonial soldiers to protect themselves from the feared Lobi warriors. Nestled under a wooded hill, this man-made cave is now a historical site open to the public, bearing witness to a fascinating military past.
Description
Located in Diébougou, southwestern Burkina Faso, the Military Cave, commonly known as "Guerre Dinguê" (the "war hole"), is a site rich in history and mystery. Its name combines the French word "guerre" (war) and the Dioula word "dinguê" (hole).
Unlike natural caves, Guerre Dinguê was hand-dug by men from the Lobi, Dyan, Dagara, Birifor, and Pougouli ethnic groups under the direction of the French army during colonial times. Between 1900 and 1914, this underground bunker was built to protect French troops, who feared the Lobi warriors.
This unique military fortification, located beneath a wooded hill extending into a plateau, reflects the tensions and conflicts of the era. After decades of abandonment, the cave was rehabilitated in 1992 to become a place of memory and education.
Today, the Diébougou Military Cave regularly welcomes visitors, especially primary and secondary school students eager to learn about this fascinating chapter of Burkinabe history. A visit here is a journey into the country’s military and colonial past, right inside a truly unique bunker.
Site location
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