Dozens of people, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in a militant attack in Burkina Faso, local and security sources reported to AFP on Sunday.
The assault, carried out by jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, targeted the village of Barsalogho in north-central Burkina Faso on Saturday. This attack is part of a broader insurgency that has plagued the region since 2015, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing around two million people.
Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo condemned the “cowardly and barbaric attack” and labeled the perpetrators as “hordes of criminals.” The militants indiscriminately targeted women, children, the elderly, and men, making no distinctions among the victims.
A local resident reported that the attack occurred around 9:00 am, with terrorist groups launching a surprise assault on the village, resulting in numerous casualties among both civilians and security personnel.
A security source confirmed that there were “several dozen dead,” with many of the injured being transported to a hospital in Kaya, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) away. The hospital, which has been inundated with over 100 wounded individuals, has mobilized all available personnel to handle the crisis.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, it highlights the ongoing security challenges in Burkina Faso, where the government has sought military assistance from Russia after expelling French troops and diplomats following a coup in September 2022.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana noted that despite a response and air support, civilians, soldiers, and members of the civilian defense force were among those killed.
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