Burkina Faso’s government silent as jihadist attacks escalate

Since the start of the year, eastern Burkina Faso has been rocked by a series of deadly raids carried out by the Al Qaeda-affiliated Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM). In a span of just ten days, these attacks have resulted in several hundred fatalities, with security forces bearing significant losses. Despite the escalating crisis, the government of Burkina Faso has maintained a conspicuous silence.

A complete information blackout is in effect. Neither the security forces (FDS) nor the government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré who has since been named president, have issued any statements. This lack of communication from official channels and the local Burkina Faso press is stark. The reason appears to be political: the relentless jihadist assaults in the northern and especially eastern regions, which have inflicted heavy casualties on the FDS, directly contradict the authorities’ official narrative. This narrative, which emphasizes territorial recovery and control over the security situation, was the very justification for the military’s seizure of power in the September 2022 coup.

On March 6, another deadly raid targeted a police camp for mobile intervention units in Yamba, located 20 kilometers north of Fada N’Gourma, the capital of Gourma province in the country’s eastern region. The attack is widely believed to have been conducted by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), also known by its Arabic acronym, JNIM.

Dozens Killed, Including at Least 30 Police Officers

While official figures are absent, an unofficial report citing a local security source indicates a death toll of “several dozen,” with at least thirty police officers among the deceased. Eyewitness accounts describe an assault by scores of attackers on motorcycles who ransacked the camp, seizing equipment. Reinforcements were unable to reach the site in time. Notably, this same camp was the target of an attack almost exactly one year prior.

This latest assault follows an exceptionally violent February. According to data compiled by West Africa Maps, an outlet with a network of informants across the region, JNIM conducted 38 attacks during that month alone. Additionally, three other attacks were attributed to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), which operates in the northeast near the borders with Niger and Mali. This tri-border area is strategically significant, known for its numerous gold mines and its role as a major hub for trade and smuggling, making it a key focus in Faso current affairs.

February 14 marked the year’s deadliest day so far, featuring two coordinated raids. The targets were a base for the Water and Forestry Fighting Units and the military barracks in Titao, located in northern Burkina Faso. The outcome was devastating, with 101 forest guards and 186 members of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) killed. Héni Nsaibia, an analyst for the conflict-monitoring NGO ACLED, noted that these incursions demonstrated “a high degree of coordination, given the number of large-scale attacks that occurred between February 12 and 22.”

The VDP, a patriotic militia established by the authorities to act as an auxiliary force for the army, are frequently the primary targets of JNIM raids. On March 3, the jihadist group claimed responsibility for killing 11 VDP members and seizing machine guns, motorcycles, and other equipment during assaults on three positions in Gourbousou, Yabousgo, and Zogoré, all in the Ouahigouya region.

Ibrahim Traoré’s military government appears incapable of mounting an effective response to this security challenge. Compounding the issue, the VDP themselves are accused of committing numerous atrocities against the Fulani (Peul) Muslim minority, who are often suspected of collaborating with jihadists. The most recent reported incident occurred on March 1, when VDP members allegedly massacred several Fulani civilians in the municipality of Bittou.