Over 100 Killed in Terror Attack in Northern Burkina Faso

A deadly terror attack in northern Burkina Faso killed more than 100 people on Sunday. Most of the victims were soldiers. The attack took place in several areas, including a military base and the important town of Djibo.

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The attack was carried out by a jihadi group linked to Al-Qaida, known as Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). This group is active in the Sahel region, which is known for increasing violent extremism.

An aid worker and a local student confirmed the attack, saying that the attackers struck multiple locations at the same time around 6 a.m. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.

In Djibo, the terrorists first took control of the checkpoints around the town and then attacked military camps. One of their main targets was a special anti-terrorism unit.

Experts say that this shows how powerful the group has become. In the past, Burkina Faso’s military responded to such attacks quickly, but this time there was no air support. The attackers were able to stay in the area for hours.

Burkina Faso, which has a population of 23 million, is currently ruled by a military government. Half of the country is not under government control due to ongoing violence. The crisis has already caused two coups in 2022. There are also reports that government forces have committed unlawful killings.

Security experts say the military's approach of using untrained civilian militias is increasing tensions between different ethnic groups and making the situation worse.

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