Dozens of people have been killed in two separate attacks in Burkina Faso, highlighting the country’s spiraling insecurity.
A military base in northern Djibo was assaulted on Sunday, killing multiple soldiers and pro-government militiamen, with arms stolen and significant human losses reported among the population.
The base has been attacked multiple times before, including in October 2022, when 10 soldiers were killed and 50 wounded, and operates in an area where Al Qaeda affiliate JNIM is active.
In a separate incident, at least 58 civilians were killed in three villages in the southern province of Koulpelogo near the border with Togo.
The villages of Bousgou, Salemboare, and Yonde came under attack over several days starting Thursday evening last week.
Burkina Faso’s military government, led by Ibrahim Traore since a 2022 coup, has faced criticism over national security measures.
Human Rights Watch recently accused the army of participating in a massacre of over 130 ethnic Fulani civilians in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region in March.
The government dismissed the allegations as a “disinformation campaign”. With militant attacks persisting across much of the country, the situation remains dire.
