A suspected Islamic extremist attack on a village in the west of Burkina Faso has resulted in the death of 33 civilians, according to a statement from the provincial governor’s office.
Islamist attack kills 33 civilians in Burkina Faso village
The attack took place in the village of Youlou in Mouhoun province on Thursday evening, while residents were working in their fields next to the Mouhoun River. The governor of the province, Babo Pierre Bassinga, has condemned the attack, calling it “cowardly and barbaric.” In response, he has stated that security actions are being taken to counter the extremists, and he has urged the population to be vigilant and collaborate with the security forces.
Burkina Faso has been plagued by extremist violence since 2015, with jihadist groups launching attacks on military and civilian targets
The violence has resulted in the displacement of over a million people and has led to a deteriorating security situation in the country. Attacks like the one on Youlou village are becoming more frequent in the country’s western region, which has seen a surge in violence in recent months. Despite efforts by the government and international partners to combat the extremist groups, the security situation in Burkina Faso remains fragile, and attacks like this one are likely to continue.
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