Suspected jihadists have launched a deadly हमला on a village in Burkina Faso, killing at least 12 civilians, including members of a local volunteer force supporting the army.
According to local and security sources, the attack occurred over the weekend in the village of Dourtenga. Armed fighters reportedly stormed the community on Sunday, killing nine members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP), including their leader. Three other civilians, including a woman, also lost their lives.
Residents described the нападение as brutal and prolonged, lasting over an hour. The attackers looted shops, set properties ablaze, and left widespread destruction in their wake.
Fear has since gripped the community, with many villagers fleeing their homes amid concerns of another strike.
The attack is believed to be part of a broader wave of violence linked to jihadist groups operating in the region. One such group, Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has previously claimed responsibility for similar assaults targeting both military personnel and civilian volunteers.
Data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project reveals that more than 130 people were killed in a span of just 10 days during recent attacks.
More Read
Despite the escalating violence, the country’s military government, which came to power following the 2022 Burkina Faso coup d’état, maintains that it has regained control of nearly three-quarters of the nation and facilitated the return of over one million displaced persons.
However, analysts warn that Burkina Faso remains trapped in a cycle of violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 2015, with more than half of the casualties recorded in the past three years.
