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A series of attacks attributed to terrorists has resulted in the deaths of seven police officers and one soldier in Burkina Faso, a nation struggling with a persistent insurgency.
Local and security sources confirmed the fatalities to AFP on Monday.
Two of these assaults targeted a police position near Fada N’Gourma in the eastern part of the country, an area bordering Niger known for housing various armed groups.
A resident reported that “terrorists launched an attack against the police post of the university” on Monday, June 30.
Police Director General Wennelebsida Jean-Alexandre Darga’s official document confirmed seven officers were killed in this assault. The same university site was attacked again three days later, causing building damage.
JNIM Claims Responsibility, Junta Under Scrutiny
The Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the June 30 attack on the university.
JNIM also claimed another attack on the same day, targeting an army position near Boulsa in central Burkina Faso. This assault killed one soldier and led to the capture of two civilian volunteer auxiliaries, according to a Burkinabe security source.
JNIM has since released a video of the captured fighters, calling on the army-led authorities to secure their release.
Despite the junta, which seized power in September 2022, prioritising national security, Burkina Faso continues to be plagued by attacks from terrorists and other armed groups.
Conflict monitor ACLED reports that over 26,000 civilians and soldiers have died in the violence since 2015, with more than half of these deaths occurring in the past three years under the current junta’s rule.
The military authorities rarely comment publicly on these terrorist attacks.
