The Al Qaeda affiliate Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on a military post in northern Burkina Faso’s Loroum province, where the group said 60 soldiers were killed, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The U.S.-based NGO, which monitors online activities of Islamist militants, reported that JNIM issued statements on Monday and Tuesday, taking credit for four attacks across Burkina Faso and Mali. The violence underscores the growing challenge facing the Sahel nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which are struggling to curb insurgent activity amid military-led governments.
Authorities in Burkina Faso have not officially commented on the latest series of attacks.
The most significant assault took place in the town of Sole, where JNIM fighters targeted a military base, killing soldiers. The exact date of the attack remains unclear. Additionally, SITE reported that a separate attack in eastern Gnagna province claimed the lives of 10 members of a pro-government militia known as VDP.
In a related development, Ousmane Dicko, leader of JNIM’s Burkina Faso branch, appeared in a video urging residents of Djibo, a northern town, to evacuate for their safety. On Sunday, an army base in Djibo was attacked, and security sources also confirmed that a police station and a market were targeted.
Three residents of Djibo described a violent assault by hundreds of militants on military and militia positions. Although no official casualty figures have been released, witnesses reported dozens of soldiers and civilians killed in the attack. A local teacher described soldiers being caught in explosions and civilians shot by gunfire.
Videos surfaced on social media Wednesday showing armed insurgents moving through Diapaga, a town near the borders with Niger and Mali. The insurgents, some on foot and others on motorbikes, were seen tearing down flags of the junta-led countries and Russia. Gunshots and black smoke could be heard in the background, but the authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.
“JNIM is showcasing its ability to seize towns with little resistance from local security forces, and analysts predict continued attacks in their strongholds,” said Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at Control Risks.
