At least 50 people are feared death after an attack by arm men on civilian in a village in northern Burkina Faso. It was overnight between Saturday and Sunday when this attack took place in Seytenga commune, part of Seno Province near the border where fighters linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) are ensnared in an armed conflict.
The dead toll is said to rise as more bodies are been discovered by the army according to authorities. Security situation in Burkina Faso Continues to deteriorate especially in the north and east where over 2000 lives have been lost and 1,9 Million People displaced since 2015 due to Increase attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
For several years, Burkina Faso has been caught in a spiral of violence attributed to various armed jihadist groups. Some are affiliated with Al Qaeda and others with the Islamic State group. The attacks have become particularly violent in the north and east of the country. The Burkinabè army is struggling today to thwart this violence.
Possible cause of Attack
Last week, Seytenga was home to a bloody gun exchange between rebels and the government army with casualties on both sides.10 police officer and 40 rebels were killed during the Confrontation. The recent attacks of Saturday breaking Sunday night where, the arm group targeted civilians in Seytenga in Séno province is Perceived as a reprisal following the army’s action (military operation that the army said led to the deaths of about 40 rebel fighters.)
Last year in June, the French government declared Burkina Faso a red zone country due to high risk of Kidnapping and terrorist threat and prescribed measures under which her citizens could visit the country.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for this attack although after analysis by some, it is probable that the attacks were orchestrated by Islamic State group. Civilians are forced to flee from this conflict zone as they fear imminent attacks from these Islamic groups. Civilians deploy the inability of the Military to effectively guarantee their safety and security against these arm groups.
Reactions from others
The United Nations condemned the attack, and called on authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice While the countries strong man Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, immediately vowed to make security his key priority.
The European Union through the voice of foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell also condemned the incident, calling for “light to be shed on the circumstances of this killing”.