Two deadly jihadist attacks in northeastern Burkina Faso earlier this week have left “several dozen” people dead, including soldiers and civilians, security sources confirmed on Friday.
The first attack occurred on Monday when a military unit stationed in the village of Dargo was targeted by armed terrorist groups. A regional security official described the assault as “major,” noting that there were heavy casualties on both sides.
“In the fighting, several dozen deaths were recorded on each side,” the official told AFP.
A second attack took place the same day, targeting a supply convoy traveling between the towns of Dori and Gorom-Gorom. The convoy was ambushed, resulting in multiple fatalities, including both soldiers and civilians.
“Several soldiers were killed, along with civilians, notably truck drivers transporting supplies,” a second security source said. A manager at a local haulage company confirmed that about 20 drivers and their apprentices died in the ambush.
The attack on the military unit in Dargo was claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist organization that operates across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The United Nations has identified JNIM as the most powerful and influential jihadist force in the Sahel region.
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has faced a worsening security crisis, grappling with near-daily attacks by jihadist groups linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The violence has killed thousands and displaced over two million people, with the northeast among the hardest-hit regions.
The latest attacks underscore the persistent instability in the country, where security forces continue to struggle against well-armed insurgent groups despite repeated government offensives.
Written By Rodney Mbua
