ABIDJAN: Militants killed at least 10 civilians at the weekend at a market in the north of Burkina Faso, security officials and locals said on Tuesday.
The attack took place on Sunday in the town of Manni, located in the Gnagna province, which has been heavily affected by the militancy that spilled over from neighboring Mali in 2015. The region has since endured persistent violence, which has led to thousands of civilian and military casualties.
“Sunday was a black day for Manni,” a resident said. “Terrorists attacked the town in the evening, wreaking death and destruction.” According to the resident, more than 50 wounded persons were rushed to the local medical center, which has been overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.
The attackers reportedly targeted the bustling market, opening fire indiscriminately, sparking panic among shoppers and vendors. “They looted shops and set the whole place alight,” another local witness said.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show medical staff nursing the injured in the courtyard of Manni’s hospital.
Since taking power in 2022, Burkina Faso’s military junta has prioritized the fight against militant groups. The insurgency has claimed over 26,000 lives since 2015, including more than 6,000 this year alone, according to data from Acled, an NGO that tracks global violence.
The latest attack comes just a day after junta leader Ibrahim Traore, during a public radio broadcast, reiterated his stance on Burkina Faso’s fight against armed groups. “We are in conflict with armed bandits who kill indiscriminately. We don’t want reconciliation with them. We will fight until they raise the white flag themselves,” he stated.
