According to officials on Sunday, suspected jihadist attacks in Northern Burkina Faso resulted in the deaths of 32 defense volunteers and 10 soldiers. The incident occurred when an unidentified armed group targeted a detachment of soldiers and volunteers near Aorema village at around 4:00 pm on Saturday. The army reported that 40 people, including eight soldiers and 32 defense volunteers, had died, and at least 50 terrorists were neutralized in the counter-attack, including several killed in air strikes.
No fewer than 32 defence volunteers and 10 soldiers have been confirmed dead after suspected jihadist attacks in insurgency-hit northern Burkina Faso, officials said on Monday.
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Eight soldiers and 32 defense volunteers were among the 40 fatalities, according to the army, which also claimed that "at least 50 terrorists" were "neutralized" during the counterattack, including several who were killed in airstrikes.
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The same source claims that on Sunday, "another attack targeted the military detachment of Kongoussi (Bam province, North Central region)," resulting in "two soldiers" being killed and "about 20 terrorists neutralized."
33 victims of the initial attack were listed as being "in stable condition" and receiving care in the regional capital, according to the governorate of the northern region.
The same source claims that on Sunday, "another attack targeted the military detachment of Kongoussi (Bam province, North Central region)," resulting in "two soldiers" being killed and "about 20 terrorists neutralized."
33 victims of the initial attack were listed as being "in stable condition" and receiving care in the regional capital, according to the governorate of the northern region.
In response to the ongoing insurgency in Burkina Faso, authorities have declared a state of emergency for affected territories, according to a security source who spoke with AFP. An "advisory" has also been issued, which grants the president the authority to requisition people, goods, and services, and to limit certain civil liberties. In an effort to aid the military's battle against the insurgency, the defense minister has called for current and retired military personnel to donate unused uniforms.
The government has been struggling to address the violence in the country, which has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people, with two million people displaced from their homes, according to non-governmental aid groups. Burkina Faso's transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has set a goal of recapturing the 40% of the country controlled by jihadists. Last week, 44 civilians were reportedly killed by armed terrorist groups in two villages near the Niger border, one of the deadliest attacks against civilians since Traore came to power in September 2022 after 51 soldiers were killed in February at Deou in the far north. The government had previously announced a plan to recruit 5,000 more soldiers to combat the insurgency that has plagued the country since 2015.
