Officials said on Sunday that at least 32 defense volunteers and 10 troops had perished in suspected jihadist strikes in northern Burkina Faso, which has been hard-hit by the conflict.
According to a statement from the Ouahigouya governorate, a group of military and civilian volunteers were the target of an attack by unknown armed persons on Saturday at 4:00 pm close to Aorema village.
Eight soldiers and 32 defense volunteers were among the 40 fatalities, according to the army, which also claimed that “at least 50 terrorists” were “neutralized” during the counterattack, including several who were killed in airstrikes.
The same source claims that on Sunday, “another attack targeted the military detachment of Kongoussi (Bam province, North Central region),” resulting in “two soldiers” being killed and “about 20 terrorists neutralized.”