In the town of Barsalogho in Burkina Faso, around 200 people have been killed and 140 injured in a deadly attack carried out by the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Women and children were among the casualties in this latest attack. The town is strategically located near Kaya, the last standing military force between JNIM fighters and the capital, Ouagadougou. Several soldiers are also missing following the attack as JNIM continues to advance and seize territory in the troubled West African country.
The Burkinabe military government was aware of the impending attack and called on the general population to assist in digging trenches to serve as a protective barrier. Despite initial hesitation due to fear of reprisal attacks, the digging began on Saturday but was still in progress when the JNIM fighters arrived and opened fire. Videos from the scene showed scores of bodies in the trenches, mostly young men, as well as seized weapons and a military ambulance. The attack has been described as barbaric by Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo.
JNIM is one of several armed groups operating in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region, aiming to establish an Islamic caliphate and expel Western-influenced governments. Formed in 2017, JNIM is composed of four armed groups and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. Led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, the group exploits local divisions, targets government infrastructure, and funds its activities through various means such as ransom payments and smuggling. JNIM has been responsible for multiple large-scale attacks across Burkina Faso and Mali, causing significant casualties.
Burkina Faso has become the most terrorism-affected country in the world, surpassing Afghanistan and Iraq according to the Global Terrorism Index. The country saw nearly 2,000 people killed in 2023 in terrorist attacks, a 68 percent increase from the previous year. With a high level of displacement and frequent attacks by armed groups, Burkina Faso is facing a severe crisis. The military government, which came into power after overthrowing a civilian government in 2022, has not been successful in combating the armed groups despite severing ties with France and seeking assistance from Russia.
Security analysts suggest that a military solution alone is not feasible in addressing the crisis in Burkina Faso. The military government’s efforts to combat armed groups have not yielded significant results, with large portions of the country under their control. Local agreements pursued by the civilian government for ceasefires have been abandoned, leading to increased attacks on civilians and potentially pushing more people to join armed groups. Effective counterinsurgency efforts would require addressing governance issues and engaging with more moderate members of groups like JNIM to secure a ceasefire.
In the future, the Burkinabe government may need to consider reaching out to moderate members of JNIM to secure a ceasefire as a military solution alone may not be sufficient. Frustration among soldiers is growing, with rumours of possible countercoups adding to the anxiety in the country. It remains to be seen how the government will navigate the complex security situation in Burkina Faso and address the ongoing crisis caused by armed groups like JNIM.
