In a brazen assault, the Al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military post in Mansila, near the border with Niger.
The attack, which reportedly occurred on June 11th, is believed to have left over 100 Burkina Faso soldiers dead, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
Burkina Faso’s military government has yet to officially comment on the incident despite requests for confirmation. JNIM, through a statement obtained by SITE, alleges their fighters stormed the location, overpowering soldiers and seizing control of the base.
Unverified graphic videos circulating online show intense gunfire erupting around the targeted army post. Another disturbing video reportedly showcases captured weapons, ammunition, and several Burkina Faso soldiers held captive by JNIM.
This assault marks one of the deadliest attacks ever endured by Burkina Faso’s armed forces. The West African nation, alongside Mali and Niger, has been grappling with a brutal insurgency linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for over a decade.
The ongoing conflict has caused immense suffering in the region.
Thousands of lives have been lost and millions displaced within Burkina Faso alone.
The insurgents’ control over vast territories in Burkina Faso and Mali further threatens the stability of the entire Sahel region, potentially serving as a launching ground for attacks on southern coastal nations.