Militants in Burkina Faso launched a major assault Sunday in what is being described as the most significant attack in years, since the outbreak of the country’s civil war in August 2015.
According to a report by Reuters, an army base in Djibo, located in the northern Soum Province, was overrun in the early morning hours. Many soldiers were reportedly killed in their sleep or gunned down while attempting to flee. Among the dead were also members of pro-government militias.
More than 100 civilians were also killed in the assault, marking one of the deadliest incidents in recent memory.
After capturing the military base, the attackers moved into the city center, targeting key infrastructure including a hospital and a police station. No group has officially claimed responsibility, but the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is known to operate in the region and has maintained a siege on Djibo for over three years.
Djibo has been encircled since February 2022, with JNIM militants cutting off access to and from the city. Supplies have been restricted and civilians have been unable to leave. The city has been under near-constant assault since 2019.
Repeated efforts by the Burkinabè government to lift the siege—through both military campaigns and attempted negotiations—have failed. Sunday’s assault underscores the deteriorating security situation and the government's inability to reclaim control of the city.
During the attack, aircraft from the Burkinabè Air Force were deployed but were forced to retreat due to heavy anti-aircraft fire from the militants.
An additional attack was reported Saturday in the country’s southern Koulpelogo Province, where at least 58 civilians were killed near the border with Togo.