Burkina Faso: 41 people killed in 9 terrorist attacks in August
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - At least 41 people were killed and 10 wounded in 9 terrorist attacks during the month of August in Burkina Faso, the Burkinabè Human Rights and Peoples Movement (MBDHP) said on Friday, questioning the ability of the government to fight against terrorism in the West African country.
"In August 2019 alone, the MBDHP reported nine terrorist attacks, resulting in 41 deaths and around 10 injuries," the Movement said in a statement condemning the attack on a military detachment in Koutougou which killed 24 soldiers.
According to MBDHP, on the night of August 13 to 14, 2019, at least four Burkinabè soldiers were killed in the town of Toéni in the north-west, following the explosion of a mine at the passage of their vehicle.
The next day, August 15, 2019, a team of the national police fell victim of an attack on the Djibo-Mentao axis, causing the death of three policemen and wounded one person.
"Beyond the emotion, anger and legitimate condemnation of these terrorist attacks, the MBDHP questions the capacity of the current government to implement the right to security for all Burkinabe people" said the statement.
The Movement recalls that the recurrence of such attacks and following the same procedure exposes the flaws of "our security system".
The 24 soldiers killed were buried on Thursday, while the five who were missing were found alive, according to the army.
The president of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, decreed a national mourning of three days starting from this Friday.
United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the people of Burkina Faso.
The terrorist attacks have so far killed nearly 500 people and displaced 280,000 persons in Burkina Faso, where several provinces have been living under a state of emergency since January 2019.
-0- PANA NTDD/IS/KND/VAO 23Aug2019
