Around 170 individuals, encompassing women and children, have reportedly been “executed” in attacks on three villages in Burkina Faso, according to a statement from the public prosecutor, Aly Benjamin Coulibaly.
Coulibaly has called on witnesses to come forward and aid in identifying and capturing the perpetrators responsible for the assaults on Komsilga, Nordin, and Soro.
Concurrently, the military has issued a warning about an increased threat of Islamist attacks, including potential targeting of urban centers. Despite the military assuming control in 2022, more than a third of Burkina Faso remains under insurgent influence.
The prosecutor has launched an investigation into the attacks on the villages in Yatenga province that occurred on February 25. Numerous women and children were reported among the casualties, according to AFP news agency.
The identity of the assailants remains unknown, and there appears to be no discernible link to recent violence in other parts of the country, such as attacks on churches, mosques, and army bases.
The army chief has cautioned soldiers to remain vigilant, citing a heightened risk of suicide attacks by militants. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the potential for large-scale attacks against security forces in urban areas.
Humanitarian workers characterize Burkina Faso as one of the world’s most neglected crises. Ongoing insecurity has displaced over two million people over the years, with the UN estimating that 25% of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to hunger.
Despite the military assuming power two years ago with promises to quell rebel activity, violence persists. The Institute for Economics and Peace recently asserted that the central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has become the new epicenter of terrorism, surpassing the Middle East.