Burkina Faso blast: Dozens die after convoy hit

On Sep 7, 2022

At least 35 civilians have been killed by a bomb that hit a convoy of vehicles in the north of Burkina Faso where jihadist militant groups are active, the authorities say.

Dozens of others were wounded.

Convoys escorted by the army are used to deliver supplies to towns that are otherwise cut off by militants.

Deadly attacks have been on the rise in Burkina Faso, despite a coup in January led by soldiers who said they would tackle the insecurity.

Monday’s blast took place on a stretch of road between the towns of Djibo and Bourzanga, an area where militants have attacked villages, police, and military positions for the past seven years.

The local authority said that one of the vehicles in the convoy ran over an improvised explosive device. No group has said it was behind the killings.

The victims were mainly traders who were going to buy supplies in the capital, Ouagadougou, and students who were returning to the city before the start of term next week.

In an effort to deal with the militants, the government has said it has intensified the army’s “offensive actions” and also initiated dialogue with certain armed groups.

It argues that this strategy has allowed dozens of young people to lay down their arms and for some communities to go back to their villages.

This latest attack comes days after military ruler Lt-Col Paul-Henri Damiba met with his counterparts from Mali and Ivory Coast to discuss ways to work together to tackle the region’s security problems.

Agencies