Dozens Killed In Latest Militants’ Attack In Burkina Faso
Dozens of people, including civilians, have been killed in a recent militant attack in Burkina Faso.
The attack was carried out by jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Since 2015, the extremist groups have led a brutal insurgency in Burkina Faso, causing thousands of deaths and displacing approximately two million people.
AFP reports that the latest attack occurred in Barsalogho, a village in north-central Burkina Faso, on Saturday, according to multiple sources.
Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo condemned the attack as “cowardly and barbaric,” attributing it to “hordes of criminals.”
Ouedraogo stated on national television that the attackers showed no distinction, targeting “women, children, the elderly, and men.”
A local resident reported that the assault began around 9:00 am, when “terrorist groups attacked the village, resulting in numerous civilian and security personnel casualties.”
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed “several dozen dead,” including both civilians and security forces.
Most of the wounded were taken to a hospital in the regional capital of Kaya, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) away.
A hospital source in Kaya revealed that more than 100 injured individuals were admitted to the city’s largest medical center, prompting a call for all available personnel to address the emergency.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to another local resident, many of the victims were “young civilians who had come out in large numbers to assist soldiers in digging trenches around the town for protection against potential attacks by armed terrorist groups.”
A second security source indicated that the response from soldiers and auxiliary troops “neutralized several terrorists and prevented a greater tragedy.”
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana reported that civilians were killed despite “a response and air support.” Soldiers and members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP), a civilian force supporting the military, were also among the casualties.
Since taking power in a September 2022 coup, Burkina Faso’s leaders have expelled French troops and diplomats, opting for military assistance from Russia.
