Twenty people, mostly civilian army auxiliaries and soldiers, were killed Monday in Burkina Faso during two attacks by terrorist groups, we learned on Wednesday.
Twenty-one people, mostly civilian army auxiliaries and soldiers, were killed on Monday June 5 in Burkina Faso during two attacks by terrorist groups, AFP learned on Wednesday June 7 from security sources.
On Monday, “a violent clash took place in Sawenga, in the commune of Bittou, (Boulgou province, Center-East region) between a mixed unit of soldiers and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP, civilian auxiliaries of army) and armed terrorist groups,” a security source told AFP.
“The balance sheet on the friendly side reports 14 fallen volunteers as well as four soldiers”, specified this source, also evoking “five wounded who were taken care of” and whose days are not in danger.
Confirming the results, another security source indicated that the mixed unit “was taking part in a security operation in the area”, and “the air vectors deployed in response to this attack made it possible to neutralize more than fifty terrorists” .
“The search and security operations continue in this area”, targeted in recent weeks by attacks against civilians, said the same source.
Attack on a border police station
According to a police source, “during the night of Monday to Tuesday, another violent attack targeted the Yendere border police station” (southwest), near Côte d’Ivoire. “We deplore the death of a policeman and two civilians,” she continued, also referring to “significant material damage”.
A road transporter in the area, contacted by AFP, confirmed the attack, assuring that many residents had already fled to Côte d’Ivoire after recent incursions by terrorist groups.
Côte d’Ivoire is hosting some 18,000 refugees who have fled Burkina Faso, more than twice as many as in 2022 according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Burkina has been caught since 2015 in a spiral of violence that appeared in Mali and Niger a few years earlier and which has spread beyond their borders.
The violence over the past seven years has killed more than 10,000 civilians and soldiers, according to NGOs, and more than two million internally displaced persons. According to the government, the army controls 65% of the national territory.
Burkina has been ruled since last September by a military junta headed by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who came to power after a coup, the second in eight months.
Since then, Ouagadougou has notably demanded and obtained the departure of the 400 French special forces soldiers who were based in the country to fight the jihadists, and denounced a military assistance agreement signed in 1961 with France.
With AFP
Source: France 24
