36 Civilians Killed In Northern Burkina Faso
Umer Jamshaid Published January 22, 2020 | 01:16 PM
Militants killed 36 civilians when they attacked villages in northern Burkina Faso, the government said Tuesday, appealing for local volunteers to bolster its fight against jihadists
Ouagadougou, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2020 ) :Militants killed 36 civilians when they attacked villages in northern Burkina Faso, the government said Tuesday, appealing for local volunteers to bolster its fight against jihadists.
A "terrorist group" killed 32 civilians when they attacked and burned the market in Nagraogo village before killing four more people in Alamou village on Monday, the government said.
Three other people were wounded in the attacks, it added.
"The Burkina government has learned with consternation and anger of the deaths of 36 Burkinabe in Sanmatenga province, after a terrorist attack," communications minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou said.
Hundreds of people have fled the area and taken refuge in the city of Kaya, in Sanmatenga province, according to residents contacted by AFP.
President Roch Marc Christian Kabore announced a two-day period of mourning, for Wednesday and Thursday, during which flags will be flown at half-mast and festivals will be prohibited.
- Volunteer plan - Faced with these "repeated attacks" against civilians, the government launched an appeal for the people's "frank collaboration" with the defence and security forces.
The Burkina parliament on Tuesday adopted unanimously a law allowing for the recruitment of local volunteers in the fight against jihadists.
According to a document seen by AFP, volunteers aged over 18 will be recruited in their regions in agreement with local populations.
They will be given 14 days military training, after which they will be given small arms and other communication equipment.
The recruits would be expected to conduct surveillance and provide information and protection for their local communities in the event of an attack while waiting for security forces to deploy, according to Defence Minister Cheriff Sy.
Burkina Faso, as well as neighbouring Mali and Niger, has seen frequent jihadist attacks which have left hundreds of people dead since the start of 2015 when Islamist extremist violence began to spread across the Sahel region.
According to the UN, around 4,000 people were killed in jihadist attacks in the three Sahel countries last year.
The Burkina Faso army is ill-equipped and poorly-trained to deal with the threat posed by jihadists in the country.
However, in recent months they have enjoyed a series of successes, claiming to have killed a hundred jihadists in many operations.
There are 4,500 French troops deployed in the Sahel region as well as a 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in Mali to fight insurgents, backing up national forces of the G5 -- Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
In the wake of the latest attack European Commission diplomatic spokeswoman Virginie Battu-Henriksson said it was a reminder of the "urgency" of a plan to increase European security and development action in the region.
"Thoughts for the families of the victims of this new terrorist attack in a market in Burkina Faso," she said on Twitter.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
7 minutes ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
17 minutes ago -
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
2 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
2 hours ago -
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
2 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
2 hours ago
-
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
3 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
3 hours ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
3 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
3 hours ago -
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on the rise
3 hours ago -
Oman, UAE deluge 'most likely' linked to climate change: scientists
4 hours ago