Attack in Burkina Faso Leaves 53 Dead, Including Soldiers and Support Personnel

Seventeen soldiers and thirty-six civilian volunteers supporting the Burkina Faso army were killed in a new attack attributed to jihadists in the northern part of the country, according to the army's general staff. The statement from the general staff noted, "17 soldiers and 36 volunteers defending the homeland were killed." It added that the unit targeted in the attack was deployed in Combre in the Yatenga province "to allow the resettlement" of people "who had left the area more than two years ago" after being expelled by jihadists. The military's general staff, which took power following a coup in 2022, also highlighted "thirty injured individuals who were evacuated and taken care of." They emphasized "taking all necessary measures to neutralize the fleeing terrorist elements." The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the attack, stating in a statement that it was "shocked" by the deaths of the soldiers and civilian volunteers, denouncing the "terrorist attacks" and expressing "solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso." Burkina Faso's membership in ECOWAS was suspended following the military's seizure of power. Violence in Burkina Faso, perpetrated by armed groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, has led to the displacement of over two million people within the country since 2015. In the past seven years, violence has also resulted in over 16,000 fatalities—among civilians and military personnel—according to the NGO Acled, which tracks conflict-related casualties. Jihadist groups are also active in Burkina Faso's neighboring countries—Mali and Niger, which have also experienced military coups since 2020.