Civilians Among Dozens Killed In Militant Attack In Burkina Faso

In a tragic escalation of violence, dozens of civilians and security personnel were killed in a militant attack in Burkina Faso over the weekend, according to local and security sources. The attack, which took place in the village of Barsalogho in north-central Burkina Faso on Saturday, is the latest in a series of brutal assaults linked to jihadist groups in the region.

The militants, reportedly affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, have been waging a relentless insurgency in Burkina Faso since 2015. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands and displaced over two million people, further destabilizing a country already grappling with severe security challenges.

The attack in Barsalogho was carried out by armed men who indiscriminately targeted the local population. According to multiple sources, the assault occurred around 9:00 am on Saturday. The assailants launched their attack on the village, killing civilians and security personnel alike. “They targeted women, children, elderly, men, making no distinction,” said Burkina Faso’s Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, who condemned the attack as “cowardly and barbaric” in a statement on national television.

A security source, who requested anonymity, confirmed that there were “several dozen dead” as a result of the attack. The source added that the wounded, many of whom were civilians, were transported to a hospital in the regional capital of Kaya, approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Barsalogho.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the victims of the assault were primarily “young civilians who came out in large numbers to help the soldiers dig trenches around the town to protect themselves from possible attacks by armed terrorist groups,” according to a resident. This tragic event underscores the severe risk faced by civilians who are increasingly drawn into the conflict as they attempt to assist security forces in defending their communities.

A second security source noted that the response by soldiers and auxiliary troops, including the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP), a civilian force supporting the military, helped to “neutralize several terrorists and avoid a greater tragedy.” Despite their efforts, the attack resulted in a significant number of casualties.

The scale of the attack prompted an urgent response from medical facilities in the region. Over 100 wounded individuals were taken to the largest medical center in Kaya, where medical personnel were called upon to manage the “emergency linked to a massive influx of patients,” according to an internal note seen by AFP. The chief of the center appealed to all staff to come in to assist with the overwhelming number of casualties.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana confirmed that civilians were among those killed in the attack, despite efforts to counter the assault, which included air support. The attack also claimed the lives of soldiers and members of the VDP, highlighting the ongoing and severe threat posed by militant groups in Burkina Faso.

The attack in Barsalogho is a grim reminder of the relentless insurgency that has plagued Burkina Faso for nearly a decade. The country’s leadership, which came to power following a coup in September 2022, has struggled to contain the violence. In a significant shift in its international alliances, Burkina Faso’s coup leaders have expelled French troops and diplomats, turning instead to Russia for military assistance.

The conflict, which has engulfed much of the Sahel region, shows no signs of abating. The attack on Barsalogho is yet another tragic chapter in the ongoing struggle for security and stability in Burkina Faso, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. As the country reels from this latest atrocity, the need for effective and coordinated responses to the insurgency becomes ever more urgent.