OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso
Gunmen killed at least 55 people over the weekend in northern Burkina Faso, authorities said Monday, the latest attack in the West African country where mounting violence is blamed on Islamic extremists.
Suspected militants targeted
civilians in Seytenga in Seno province, government spokesman Wendkouni Joel
Lionel Bilgo said at a news conference. While the government put the official
toll at 55, others put the figure far higher.
Attacks linked to al-Qaida and
the Islamic State group are soaring in Burkina Faso, particularly in the north.
Jihadists killed at least 160 people in an attack in the town of Solhan in June
2021.
In January, mutinous soldiers
ousted the democratically elected president, promising to secure the nation,
but violence has only increased. The government is asking people to remain
united in the fight against the insurgents.
While no group claimed the
weekend attack, conflict analysts say it was likely carried out by the Islamic
State group.
“In recent weeks, the Islamic
State in the Greater Sahara have been the most aggressive group, notably in
Seno and Oudalan provinces. In addition to attacks against security forces,
civilians have also been targeted,” said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the
Policy Center for the New South, a Moroccan-based organization focused on
economics and policy.
“This is a major blow to
security forces and puts them on the back foot again, indicating they are far
from being able to secure the area and protect civilians,” he said.
Nearly 5,000 people have died
over the last two years in Burkina Faso because of violence blamed on Islamic
extremists. Another 2 million people have fled their homes, deepening the
country’s humanitarian crisis.
No comments:
Post a Comment