At least 31 soldiers from Burkina Faso, along with three members of semi-military volunteer formations, died in a militant assault across the country.
The incident highlights the escalating unrest in Burkina Faso, which has been in the grips of an ongoing insurgent threat since 2015.
Local media reported that militant groups targeted the village of Nowaka in the Central-North region, primarily attacking the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP).
The VDP is a semi-military unit consisting of civilian volunteers that assist the country’s defense efforts.
In response to the growing extremist threat, Burkina Faso authorities declared a general mobilization in April to combat the jihadists. This mobilization marked a significant attempt by the West African nation to contain the continuous militant assaults that have been plaguing the country since 2015.
Prior to this recent attack, the Burkina Faso military had reported a successful operation on June 11, where they neutralized 22 “terrorists” in the country’s northeastern region.
However, the latest incident underscores the persisting instability and calls for renewed efforts to address the militant insurgency in Burkina Faso.
