At least eleven police officers were killed in a large-scale jihadist attack in eastern Burkina Faso over the weekend, according to security sources, underscoring the continued insecurity facing the country despite government claims of progress against armed groups.
Sources told AFP that several hundred jihadist fighters launched an assault on a police unit stationed in Balga, in the Gourma province of the East Region. Seven officers were killed during the attack, while four others later died from their injuries.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the assault the same day.
Under a recent military directive, the fallen officers were buried at the site of the attack in Balga, rather than being transported to major towns. Following the incident, police forces withdrew from the area and relocated to Diapangou.
Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore who took power in a 2022 coup, has become increasingly opaque in its communication about security incidents. Authorities maintain that they have “reconquered” nearly three-quarters of the country.
However, Burkina Faso continues to face a brutal insurgency that began in 2015, with armed groups linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State carrying out frequent attacks. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), the violence has killed tens of thousands of civilians and members of the security forces, with more than half of the deaths occurring in the past three years.
