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Suspected Jihadists Kill 22 Civilians in Burkina Faso Attacks
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Sixteen civilians from volunteer auxiliaries backing up the army were killed on Friday in the deeply troubled north, a security source said, adding that some of the attackers had also suffered ‘losses’.
In two separate attacks, suspected jihadists have claimed the lives of 22 civilians in northern and western Burkina Faso, according to security and local sources.
Attack in the North
A security source revealed that on Friday, in the deeply troubled north, armed militants targeted volunteer auxiliaries supporting the army, resulting in the death of 16 civilians. The attackers also faced casualties.
A resident from a village near Boulsa, the main town in the Namentenga province, reported that two additional civilians lost their lives in the same attack. The assailants went on to set fire to homes, motorcycles, and the local market, further intensifying the devastation.
Attack in the West
The town of Fo in the west also faced the wrath of jihadists. Frequently targeted in the past weeks, four civilian members of another volunteer auxiliary group met their tragic end in an attack on Friday.
Fo has witnessed a mass exodus of its residents due to constant threats from militants.
A Looming Insurgency
Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency since its infiltration from neighboring Mali in 2015.
The military’s inability to effectively combat the insurgency has sparked frustration, leading to two coups last year. These political developments culminated in the rise of army captain, Ibrahim Traore, as the country’s leader in September.
Toll of Violence
According to the count by a non-governmental organization, the violence in Burkina Faso has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 civilians, troops, and police. Additionally, at least two million people have been displaced as a result of this ongoing conflict.
Source: [Source Name]
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