22 civilians killed, 4 injured by Al-Qaeda affiliated-group in Burkina Faso

A brutal attack led by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group has left 22 civilians dead and 4 others injured in Burkina Faso.

The incident occurred Friday in the village of Solhan, located in the Bangaba district of Burkina Faso’s northern Sahel Region.

This was made known on Saturday by Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, in a post on his X handle.

The security expert, citing local sources, stated that militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, launched the assault during morning prayers, targeting residents as they gathered for worship.

According to the report, witnesses reported that the assailants struck just after dawn, causing panic and devastation among the unarmed civilians.

Emergency responders also confirmed that all victims were civilians and that those injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.

Makama noted that the Sahel Region, particularly areas near the borders with Mali and Niger, has experienced a significant escalation in violence over recent years.

The development has led to mass displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.