Al-Qaeda linked terrorists kill 40 civilians in Burkina Faso town

The United Nations human rights office reported that at least forty civilians were killed last weekend by terrorists with ties to al-Qaida who were attempting to seize control of a besieged town in Burkina Faso’s severely affected northern region. The attack was classified as a war crime.

A large number of fighters attempted to seize control of Djibo, which is close to Mali’s border, in one of the biggest battles in recent memory in the West African nation under threat from fighters affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Terrorists have been blocking the town for more than a year; it is situated 210 kilometers (130 miles) from Ouagadougou, the country’s capital, and frequently struggles to provide basic services.

The militants in the latest attack, which happened on Sunday, also wounded 42 people and set fire to three camps for internally displaced people, U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango said in a statement on Tuesday that blamed the attack on JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with al-Qaida.

“Deliberately targeting civilians or individuals not taking direct part in hostilities constitutes a war crime,” the U.N. department said, citing reports from its workers on the ground.

The Associated Press couldn’t reach witnesses or survivors in the area, which has frequent internet cuts and where the military government is known to crack down on civil society.

State-run RTB Television ran images — which The Associated Press couldn’t verify — that showed large groups of people riding motorcycles as they appeared to flee aerial bombardment.
“Attacks on civilians are inexcusable and must stop, and those responsible must be held to account following thorough, impartial and independent investigations by the authorities,” the U.N. statement added.

Around half of Burkina Faso’s territory remains outside of government control. The landlocked country has been ravaged by jihadi attacks. Fighters have killed thousands and displaced more than 2 million people, further threatening the stability of the country that had two coups last year.

(With inputs from agencies)