In the north and west of Burkina Faso, two attacks by suspected jihadists left at least twenty-two dead on Friday, including twenty army auxiliaries. These deadly attacks come two days after the death of twenty civilians in similar conditions.
New deadly attacks in Burkina Faso. Twenty-two civilians, including twenty army auxiliaries, were killed on Friday July 7 in two attacks by suspected jihadists in the north and west of the country, AFP learned on Saturday from security and local sources.
“The village of Kogsablogo”, located near Boulsa, capital of the province of Namentenga (Centre-North region), “was the subject of an attack on Friday by terrorist groups”, said indicated a reliable source.
“The balance sheet is sixteen Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP, civilian auxiliaries of the army) fallen (killed)”, specified this source.
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“In their response, the elements also inflicted casualties on the enemy,” she added.
Confirming the “attack” which “targeted the local VDPs”, a resident said that at least two civilians had also been killed and two others injured.
“The attackers also burned houses, carts and motorbikes, as well as the market”, continued this resident, calling for a “large-scale military operation in the province of Namentenga which is experiencing an upsurge in attacks”.
Intensification of jihadist violence
According to a second security source, another attack took place on the same day in Fô, a town in the province of Houet (Hauts-Bassins region, west). “Four VDPs from the village of Kiebani were killed in this attack,” she said.
According to residents of the town contacted by AFP, Fô, targeted by jihadist violence for several weeks, “is emptying day after day of its populations”.
Burkina Faso has been caught in an escalating spiral of jihadist violence since 2015.
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On Wednesday, around 20 civilians were killed in two attacks in the north and east.
On June 26, at least 71 men, including 31 soldiers and 40 civilian army auxiliaries, died in three attacks by suspected jihadists, the two deadliest taking place in the Center-North province.
The violence over the past eight years has caused more than 10 000 dead, civilians and soldiers, according to NGOs, and more than two million internally displaced persons.
The country has been led since the end of September 2022 by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who came to power by a coup, the second in eight months, and who has shown his determination to fight the jihadists despite the multiplication of attacks.
With AFP
Source: France 24
