Al-Qaeda Branch Claims Responsibility for Killing 300 Fighters, Not Civilians, in Burkina Faso Attack
An al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for the killing of nearly 300 individuals in the recent tragic attack in north-central Burkina Faso. However, they stated that their target was militia members associated with the army, not civilians, as reported by the U.S. consultancy Site Intelligence Group.
The attack near Barsalogho was one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s history of Islamist violence. Relatives of the victims revealed that jihadists killed at least 400 people while they were digging defensive trenches on orders from the military.
Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda affiliate, mentioned that soldiers and militia members were working on the trenches when they launched the attack.
“The individuals eliminated in this assault were militia members linked to the Burkinabe army and not civilians as falsely claimed,” JNIM stated in a translated communique by Site.
Various videos released by the militants on social media showed numerous bodies in trenches, with most of them wearing civilian attire.
This incident underscores the risk associated with the authorities’ increasing reliance on civilians to combat jihadist groups that have caused instability in the Sahel region since 2012.
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Ryan Cummings, Director of Analysis at Signal Risk, highlighted the significant role civilians play in the conflict by either joining militias or assisting in town defense as seen in Barsalogho.
However, he mentioned, “Civilians aiding the military are viewed as collaborators, making them vulnerable to attacks.”
The ruling junta in Burkina Faso has not disclosed the exact casualties but confirmed that civilians, soldiers, and volunteer army auxiliaries were among the victims.
State TV reported that the attack occurred while locals in Barsalogho were involved in communal activities.
A citizen advocacy group, Collectif Justice pour Barsalogho, criticized the authorities for compelling the community to build trenches using the military, which tragically turned into mass graves.
“Our loved ones were led to their demise,” the group expressed in a statement.
Escalating violence led to two coups in Burkina Faso in 2022, but the new administration has failed to curb the bloodshed. Over 6,500 civilians have lost their lives since the beginning of 2020, with more than half perishing under the current regime, as reported by the non-governmental organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data in July.
