Civilians are among the many casualties in a brutal militant attack in Burkina Faso, as confirmed by local and security sources on Sunday. Jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have been conducting a relentless insurgency since 2015, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of two million individuals.
The recent assault occurred in Barsalogho, a village in north-central Burkina Faso, on Saturday morning. Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo condemned the “cowardly and barbaric attack,” attributing it to “hordes of criminals.” He emphasized that the assailants indiscriminately targeted “women, children, elderly, and men.”
Witness accounts indicate that the attack commenced around 9:00 a.m., with “terrorist groups attacking the village and killing numerous civilians and security personnel.” A security source reported “several dozen dead,” including both civilians and security forces. Many of the injured were transported to a hospital in Kaya, approximately 45 kilometers away.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, witnesses noted that many victims were young civilians who had gathered to assist soldiers in fortifying defenses against potential assaults. Another security official revealed that the response from military personnel and auxiliary forces helped neutralize several assailants, preventing a larger tragedy.
According to hospital sources in Kaya, over 100 people were treated for injuries, prompting officials to call in additional medical staff to manage the emergency situation. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana confirmed that both civilians and military personnel, including members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland, were killed, despite the presence of military response and air support.
Since assuming power in September 2022, Burkina Faso’s leaders have shifted military alliances, distancing themselves from France while seeking assistance from Russia amid ongoing security challenges.
