An armed group linked to al-Qaeda, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Burkina Faso that left up to 200 people dead and at least 140 injured. The attack targeted people digging trenches to protect security outposts in Barsalogho, 40km north of the town of Kaya. The attackers took weapons and a military ambulance, and several soldiers were reported missing. Gruesome videos of the aftermath were posted by JNIM, showing men, women, and children lying in the trenches, which had effectively become mass graves.
The Burkina Faso army had prior knowledge of the impending attack, urging the population to dig trenches as a defensive measure. The country has struggled to combat armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and has sought support from Russian mercenaries, amidst severed ties with Western countries like France. The government, which came into power through a coup in 2022, has faced internal discontent and attempted coups due to its handling of the crisis.
Over the past decade, armed groups have killed thousands and displaced over two million people in Burkina Faso. The country has been classified as the most neglected displacement crisis by the Norwegian Refugee Council, with over 8,400 deaths reported last year, double the previous year’s toll. The violence continues to escalate, posing a significant threat to the stability and security of the region.
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