At least 22 soldiers and civilian army auxiliaries were killed in a series of attacks by suspected jihadists over the past weekend in northern Burkina Faso, according to security officials.

Burkina Faso, currently governed by the military junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré since a September 2022 coup, has endured a decade of devastating offensives from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaïda and the Islamic State, affecting vast swathes of its territory.

“The base of one of the Rapid Intervention Battalions (BIR), located in Di, near Dédougou, was targeted by jihadists on Saturday morning,” a security source confirmed on Tuesday.

“Despite a courageous response, we regret the loss of at least fourteen soldiers and seven VDP members,” the source added, referring to the civilian auxiliaries who play a critical role in the anti-jihadist struggle and frequently face heavy casualties.

This same source also indicated that “another assault targeted the Solhan detachment in the northeast, leading to several deaths, including an officer.”

A “large-scale counter-operation” was reportedly launched in response to these incidents. A separate security official corroborated details of both attacks, noting “significant human and material losses” without providing further specifics.

Additionally, a police source reported a third attack on Sunday against a military outpost in Séguénéga, a town near Kaya in the central-north region.

“From Saturday, the coordinated response and pursuit operations led by the hierarchy allowed for the neutralization of several dozen terrorists and the recovery of various military equipment and logistical resources,” the police source highlighted.

Solhan was previously the site of one of the country’s deadliest attacks in June 2021, which resulted in an estimated 130 to 160 civilian fatalities.

On Monday, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaïda affiliate, claimed responsibility for several attacks “against Burkinabe army positions in multiple towns” and announced “the death of several Burkinabe soldiers.”

Diplomatic rupture amidst security crisis

The authoritarian, repressive, and sovereignist military regime has ceased to publicly disclose the number of soldiers killed in attacks for several years. It occasionally reports figures from its counter-offensives, which independent sources cannot verify. This approach impacts how the Burkina Faso press and independent Burkina journalism report on these crucial Faso current affairs.

Last week, the Burkinabe General Staff announced in a communiqué that it had eliminated “more than 400 terrorists” following “complex and coordinated attacks against our positions in the localities of Gayéri (Sirba region), Solhan, and Sebba (Liptako region).”

The military leadership linked these assaults to its unilateral decision in late June to sever diplomatic ties with France. Ouagadougou accused France once again of “supporting” jihadists and “fostering a distorted narrative regarding the country’s security situation.”

After years of mounting tensions, Ouagadougou ended its diplomatic relations with Paris, citing France’s “incessant activism” against Burkinabe interests. France expressed “regret” over the military government’s “hostile and unfounded” decision, subsequently withdrawing all its diplomats from Burkina Faso and demanding the departure of Burkinabe diplomatic personnel from France by July 6.

Ouagadougou has not publicly commented on the departure of its diplomatic staff from France.

Shortly after assuming power, the junta had demanded the recall of France’s ambassador to Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade, and the withdrawal of the French army, which had long been involved in anti-jihadist efforts. The regime has since pivoted towards new international partners, including Russia, and established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation with neighboring Mali and Niger.

Niamey has also announced plans to host a meeting on Wednesday with the foreign ministers of these four nations.