Burkina Faso is currently facing a long-standing and persistent threat from militant groups affiliated with al Qaeda and Daesh, leading to a high number of casualties and a huge displacement of over 2 million people within the country.
Earlier this month, a horrendous village massacre occurred in northern Burkina Faso, resulting in the tragic deaths of approximately 70 individuals, predominantly children and the elderly. The incident, which took place in Zaongo, a village located 60 kilometres away from Boulsa, is currently under investigation.
Prosecutor Simon B. Gnanou announced on Monday that the identities of the perpetrators behind these atrocious acts remain unknown at this stage, as investigations are still ongoing. The local law enforcement has been working diligently to gather evidence and testimonies to shed light on this devastating incident.
The European Union, on Sunday, revised the death toll from the village massacre to nearly 100, following meetings with the families of the victims. Investigators are expected to provide an update on the number of casualties in the coming days.
It is disheartening to note that it took two days for local authorities to raise the alarm about the attack and an additional four days for an investigative team to arrive at the scene. Once there, they discovered numerous homes burnt to the ground. Furthermore, the convoy of investigators had to fend off an attack during their mission, highlighting the dangerous and precarious security situation in the region.