Burkina Faso: Attack kills at least 20 people

Burkina Faso’s national security situation has seemingly deteriorated further after an attack in the country’s north left at least 20 people dead, as reported by RFI and agencies on February 16th.

The attack occurred in the city of Titao on February 14th. Abdoul Aziz Ouedraogo, a spokesperson for the Burkinabe Armed Forces, told RTB television that “The situation is under control in Titao.”

Local sources said that attackers were “very numerous” and were divided into three groups: armed men on motorcycles who raided and looted the military camp, attackers who isolated Titao by destroying telephone installations, and a detachment that stormed the market.

It is unclear who is responsible for the attack; however, Burkina Faso has faced a growing threat from jihadist violence in recent months, including an attack that killed at least 11 police officers in the Gourma province in January.

The al-Qaeda affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the January attack. JNIM is also behind the ongoing fuel blockade in neighbouring Mali.

JNIM fighters are particularly active in the eastern Fada N’Gourma region, which borders Niger. It was reported on January 28th that JNIM sought to impose a blockade around a livestock market in the region, which was successful, as it prevented trade, likely damaging the local economy.

Civilians in Fada N’Gourma face jihadist violence, along with repression from the Burkinabe military junta, which accuses residents of complicity in extremism.

The junta is led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has become increasingly authoritarian under the guise of countering jihadist insurgencies, which he vowed to prevent upon his rise to power in September 2022, following a military coup.

Similarly, the junta has been accused of perpetrating mass killings of civilians with suspected jihadist ties using a mix of special forces and pro-government militias, which it has justified as fighting terrorism.

However, the threat posed by jihadists is not limited to Burkina Faso, as the Sahel region more broadly has increasingly become a global epicentre for Islamist terrorism.

Burkina Faso has formed a military alliance with Mali and Niger to counter the threat; all three countries have rejected ties with Western powers in favour of security and strategic partnerships with Russia.

RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org