At the same time, the army said in a separate statement that “various” operations from August 7 to September 1 resulted in “neutralizing” (i.e. killing) “more than 65 terrorists”.
Four civilian army auxiliaries and a policeman were killed yesterday Friday in an attack in the central-northern part of Burkina Faso, the general staff announced on Saturday, while assuring that “more than 65 terrorists” were killed in operations that were carried out in August in the western part of the African country. country.
After “an attack perpetrated on Friday against a position of the VDP” (s.s. Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie, “Volunteers for the defense of the homeland”, paramilitary auxiliaries of the armed forces) “on the outskirts of Silmiugou” (central- north), police units were deployed “as reinforcements”, the staff said in a statement.
“One police officer and four VDPs unfortunately lost their lives during the fighting,” the text continues and adds that “the perpetrators of the attack were forced to retreat due to the firepower of the units, which managed to neutralize about ten terrorists.”
At the same time, the army said in a separate announcement that “various” operations from August 7 to September 1 resulted in “neutralizing” (i.e. killing) “more than 65 terrorists”.
“Very large quantities of arms, ammunition, food, wheeled vehicles and means of communication were seized from the units in the terrorist bases which were destroyed,” the text added.
The general staff also assured that these operations allowed populations in some communities to return home and to restore electricity and telecommunications networks.
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has faced constant attacks attributed to jihadist organizations that pledge allegiance to either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.
Since then, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 16,000 civilians and soldiers, according to figures from the non-governmental organization ACLED, including 5,000 this year alone.
The violence also caused the forced displacement of more than two million people inside the country.
September 30 will mark one year since the military coup that brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power in Ouagadougou, replacing Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba, the leader of the first coup last year in Burkina Faso, which ousted President Roque Kabore a few months earlier. .
Source :Skai
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