Burkina Faso's Fight Against Terror

Escalating Attacks and Strategic Hurdles

Burkina Faso has faced a series of devastating attacks by terrorist groups, particularly the Katiba Macina and Katiba Hanifa factions of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), leaving a trail of destruction and loss.

Attack on Sindorla

On April 4, 2025, dozens of Katiba Macina terrorists launched a brutal assault on a Defense and Security Forces (FDS) post in Sindorla (Morolaba, Kénédougou). The attack resulted in over 25 soldiers killed and nearly ten others severely injured. The camp was looted and set ablaze, with significant quantities of weapons, ammunition, light armored vehicles, and motorcycles stolen. The soldiers' bodies were desecrated and abandoned. The JNIM claimed responsibility, releasing videos and images of the stolen goods. The attackers, originating from the Sikasso region in Mali, retreated to their base north of Sindorla. Despite aerial surveillance and ground operations by the FDS, the terrorists exploited border regions to facilitate their retreat, highlighting the inefficiency of military cooperation among Sahel States Alliance (AES) member states.

Attack on Diapaga

On March 28, 2025, over 200 heavily armed Katiba Hanifa terrorists attacked the FDS camp and the town of Diapaga (Tapoa). The camp was nearly encircled, and despite a valiant defense, the FDS suffered heavy losses. Over 60 soldiers and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) members, including Captain Sayouba Yannick Sawadogo, were killed. Civilians were also executed, with the death toll exceeding 90. The terrorists looted weapons, vehicles, and the SOCOMA cotton factory, parading their spoils through the town before setting fire to what they couldn't take. The newly established BIR27 unit lacked sufficient equipment to withstand the assault. The following day, the terrorists returned, launching mortar attacks on the town. Efforts to deny the scale of the attack through disinformation campaigns by the La Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina (RTB) and the Defense Ministry have further eroded public trust.

Attacks in the Sourou Valley

Between March 31 and April 4, 2025, Katiba Macina terrorists launched multiple attacks on villages in the Sourou Valley (Boucle du Mouhoun), including Guiédougou, Gouran, Débé, Yaran, and Lanfièra. Over 100 civilians, primarily adolescents and young men, were massacred. The terrorists targeted those eligible for enlistment in the VDP, many of whom had expressed interest but had not yet received equipment. Villages were looted, and pumping installations were destroyed. Survivors fled to Dédougou, where solidarity networks provided aid. The bodies of victims were left unburied for days before being recovered. Just days earlier, on March 22, the FDS and VDP had been celebrated for liberating the valley, but the withdrawal of troops left the population vulnerable to reprisals. Local communities have called for a permanent FDS presence and the establishment of military bases in Di and Lanfièra to ensure lasting security.

Broader Implications

These attacks underscore the strategic shift of terrorist groups like JNIM, who exploit border regions and the lack of cohesive military cooperation among AES member states. The inability to sustain security operations and protect vulnerable populations has left communities exposed to repeated violence.