An Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for the brutal killing of 200 soldiers in northern Burkina Faso.
The attack, which targeted a military post in the town of Djibo, was confirmed by the SITE Intelligence Group on Thursday.
SITE, a US-based organization dedicated to monitoring extremist activity, reported that JNIM issued an informal statement taking credit for the assault, which occurred just a day after the group also claimed responsibility for an attack that left 60 soldiers dead.
The deadly operation is part of a disturbing surge in JNIM’s activity in Burkina Faso, with the group inflicting significant casualties over the past month. SITE noted that the group’s growing presence in the region is exacerbating the already volatile security situation in the Sahel.
Local sources, including residents of Djibo, have confirmed the deaths of numerous soldiers and civilians, although the exact toll remains unclear.
According to reports three Djibo residents suggested dozens had been killed in the attack, but a Burkina Faso military source told Al Jazeera that the figures could be exaggerated.
Burkina Faso, plagued by armed violence since 2019, continues to grapple with rising instability.
With over a million displaced persons and vital infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, destroyed, the situation remains dire. Despite the military government’s promises to restore security and forge new alliances, notably with Russia, the country’s challenges persist.
In 2024, Burkina Faso topped the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) for the first time in over a decade, with nearly 2,000 deaths attributed to terrorism in 2023 alone.
The country’s rising toll highlights the devastating impact of extremist groups in the region, further fueling global concerns over the Sahel’s security crisis.
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