Approximately 170 individuals, including women and children, have been reportedly “executed” in assaults on three villages in Burkina Faso, according to a statement by the public prosecutor, Aly Benjamin Coulibaly.
Coulibaly has urged witnesses to come forward to assist in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators responsible for the attacks on Komsilga, Nordin, and Soro.
Simultaneously, the military has issued a warning regarding an elevated threat of Islamist attacks, including the targeting of urban centers. Despite the military seizing power in 2022, over a third of Burkina Faso remains under insurgent control.
The prosecutor has initiated an investigation into the attacks on the villages in Yatenga province that occurred on February 25. Numerous women and children were reported among the casualties, as per AFP news agency.
The assailants behind the attacks have yet to be identified, and there is no apparent connection to recent violence in other parts of the country, such as attacks on churches, mosques, and army bases.
The army chief cautioned soldiers to remain vigilant, citing an increased risk of suicide attacks by militants. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the potential for large-scale attacks against security forces in urban areas.
Humanitarian workers describe Burkina Faso as one of the world’s most neglected crises. Persistent insecurity over the years has displaced over two million people, with the UN estimating that 25% of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to hunger.
Despite the military’s assumption of power two years ago with promises to quell rebel activity, violence persists. The Institute for Economics and Peace recently stated that the central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has become the new epicenter of terrorism, surpassing the Middle East.
