Burkina Faso Army Base and Villages Attacked, Dozens Dead

A deadly assault on a military base in northern Burkina Faso on Sunday left several soldiers dead, while a separate attack in the south claimed the lives of at least 58 civilians.

latest strikes underscore the escalating security crisis in the country under the control of its military junta.

The attack on Djibo, which occurred early Sunday, targeted the army base, a police station, and a local market, according to anonymous security sources.

The assault resulted in casualties among soldiers, pro-government militia fighters, and civilians, though the full death toll has yet to be confirmed. “Many of our men have fallen, including soldiers and militia fighters. Arms were seized, and there were numerous civilian casualties,” one source revealed.

This assault marks the latest in a string of attacks on the Djibo base, which has faced similar incidents, including a deadly 2022 strike that left 10 soldiers dead and 50 wounded. The region is a known hotspot for Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM activity.

In the southern Koulpelogo province, militants targeted the villages of Bousgou, Salemboare, and Yonde over several days, starting Thursday evening, killing at least 58 civilians, according to Segda Bila, a local burial committee member.

Amid these ongoing attacks, the junta’s response to the insurgency remains a point of contention.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized the military for alleged involvement in massacres, including the killing of over 130 Fulani civilians in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region in March, a claim the government has denied, calling it “disinformation.”

The government has yet to comment on the most recent wave of violence.