At least 100 villagers and soldiers were killed in central Burkina Faso during a weekend assault by al-Qaida-linked jihadis, The Associated Press reports, citing local media reports.
The attack, which has been described as one of the deadliest in the ongoing conflict plaguing the region, took place in the Barsalogho commune, some 50 miles from the capital of Ouagadougou.
According to Wassim Nasr, a Sahel specialist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center security think tank, villagers were forcibly assisting security forces in digging trenches to protect outposts and local communities when the jihadists from the al-Qaida-linked JNIM group struck the area. The attack occurred on Saturday when militants opened fire on the civilians and soldiers present.
On Sunday, al-Qaida claimed responsibility for the assault, saying in a message that they had gained “total control over a militia position” in Barsalogho. This strategic town has been a focal point for security forces attempting to fend off jihadist incursions into the capital.
According to Nasr, at least 100 bodies were visible in videos of the attack. The videos reviewed appear to show the aftermath of the brutal attack, with bodies piled beside the trenches and shovels, amidst the sound of gunfire.
The incident comes as the security situation keeps deteriorating in Burkina Faso, which has been grappling with increasing violence from jihadist groups in recent years. The conflict has led to numerous deaths and widespread displacement, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.
