In what is said to be the worst in the country’s history, a devastating attack by Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Burkina Faso reportedly left at least 600 people dead in August. The massacre, which targeted women and children, took place in the town of Barsalogho, where residents were ordered to dig protective trenches by the military.
The new death toll from the August 24 attack on Barsalogho, where civilians were shot while defending their town, could make it one of Africa’s deadliest attacks in recent decades. Militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, carried out the assault on motorcycles, targeting villagers who were helpless in trenches.
Videos shared on social media depict the horrific scene, with many victims being women and children.
The United Nations estimated the death toll from the attack to be around 200, while JNIM claimed responsibility for killing nearly 300 “fighters.” However, a French government security assessment cited by CNN suggested the figure could be as high as 600.
The military had reportedly instructed locals to construct an extensive trench network around Barsalogho to shield the town from nearby jihadists. However, JNIM has cautioned civilians against supporting the army in its efforts to combat the insurgency.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), affiliates of Al-Qaeda, which was founded by Osama bin Laden and responsible for the 9/11 attacks, along with the Islamic State group, have claimed approximately 3,800 lives this year alone. Since the conflict began in 2015, more than 20,000 people have been killed, and over two million displaced in Burkina Faso, one of the world’s poorest nations situated in the increasingly unstable Sahel region.
The casualty figures highlight the escalating violence in the Sahel region, which has seen security efforts by the US and French militaries falter amid a rise in jihadist activity.
The region has experienced a series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, leading to the withdrawal of French and American forces. Instead of stabilising the situation, Russian mercenaries brought in by local juntas have created a power vacuum that jihadist groups have exploited, according to a French security official.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
