In central Burkina Faso, a devastating attack by al-Qaida-linked militants on a village has resulted in the deaths of at least 100 villagers and soldiers, making it one of the deadliest incidents in the conflict-ridden country this year. The village of Barsalogho, located 80 kilometers from the capital city, was targeted by fighters from the al-Qaida-affiliated JNIM group while locals were assisting security forces in fortifying defenses on Saturday.
Wassim Nasr, a Sahel specialist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center security think tank, analyzed videos of the violence and confirmed the significant death toll. Al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they took control of a strategic position in Barsalogho near Kaya, a town crucial for security operations against militants attempting to approach the capital, Ouagadougou.
The footage from the scene of the attack shows a grim scene with numerous bodies strewn near the trenches where the villagers and soldiers were working. The exact number of casualties is not officially confirmed, but Burkina Faso’s security minister Mahamadou Sana mentioned that both military personnel and civilians were among the victims. The government swift response included both ground and air support to counter the assault.
Burkina Faso has been struggling with escalating jihadist violence that has engulfed nearly half of the country, leading to the displacement of millions and thousands of fatalities. Despite efforts by the junta-led government to tackle the insecurity, including seeking security assistance from other countries, the attacks persist. The civilian population, through groups like Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP), has been urged to assist in creating defenses against the militants in vulnerable areas.
Weaknesses in air surveillance, intelligence gathering, and border control have contributed to the jihadists’ successes in the region, along with reports of human rights violations by security forces pushing more individuals towards extremism. The violent attacks in Burkina Faso have not only triggered political unrest, with two coups occurring in 2022, but have also created a humanitarian crisis that remains largely overlooked on the global stage.