Al-Qaeda-Linked Attack in Burkina Faso Leaves 22 Civilians Dead

An attack led by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group resulted in the deaths of 22 civilians and left 4 others injured in Burkina Faso.

The assault occurred on Friday in Solhan, a village in the Bangaba district of Burkina Faso’s northern Sahel Region. The incident was reported on Saturday by counterterrorism expert Zagazola Makama via his X account.

Local sources revealed that militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, carried out the assault during morning prayers, specifically targeting residents gathered for worship.

Witnesses recounted that the attackers struck shortly after dawn, causing widespread panic among the civilians.

Emergency responders confirmed that all victims were civilians and that the injured were transported to nearby healthcare facilities.

Makama noted a surge in violence in the Sahel Region, particularly in areas near the borders with Mali and Niger, leading to increased displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions in the area.