Several soldiers dead, civilians missing after Burkina Faso convoy attack

Author: Editors Desk Source: France 24

September 27, 2022 at 20:10

File photo: Burkinabe gendarmes sitting on their vehicle in the city of Ouhigouya in the north of the country on October 30, 2018. © Issouf Sanogo, AFP

Eleven soldiers have been found dead and about 50 civilians are missing after an attack by Islamist militants on a 150-vehicle convoy taking supplies to a town in northern Burkina Faso on Monday, the government said on Tuesday.

Twenty-eight people were wounded in the attack, including 20 soldiers, said the statement by government spokesman Lionel Bilgo. The army had said in a previous statement that dozens of trucks were destroyed.

The assault took place in the commune of Gaskinde in Soum province, where jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have escalated attacks and seized territory since 2015.

Militants have blockaded several areas, so government convoys and air drops have delivered essential goods to trapped civilians.

The convoy, which was under military escort, was carrying supplies to the town of Djibo, just over 20 km (12 miles) away from Gaskinde.

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