By Ezekiel David
An Al-Qaeda affiliate, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), has taken credit for the attack near Barsalogho in Burkina Faso, claiming they killed nearly 300 militia members linked to the army, not civilians.
The attack, one of the deadliest in Burkina Faso’s history, has sparked conflicting reports on the victims’ identities.
The victims were soldiers and militiamen ambushed while digging trenches, according to the JNIM communiqué translated by Site Intelligence Group. However, videos circulating online seem to feature a lot of bodies covered in civilian clothes.
The incident underscores the risks associated with the government’s increasing reliance on civilians in the fight against jihadist groups. Civilians involved in militia or defence activities become potential targets for attacks.
While the Burkina Faso junta hasn’t confirmed the death toll, it acknowledged that civilians, soldiers, and volunteer army auxiliaries were among the victims. State television reported the attack occurred during community work.
Collectif Justice pour Barsalogho, a citizen advocacy group, charged the government with incompetence and stated that the military had pushed the people to dig trenches that later turned into “mass graves.”
The escalating violence in Burkina Faso has led to two coups in recent years, yet the new authorities have struggled to contain the bloodshed. Over 6,500 civilians have been killed since 2020, with a significant portion under the current government.
(Source: Reuters)