More than 130 dead: UN Secretary-General condemns attack in Burkina Faso

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French soldiers on the border with Mali and Niger (archive): Attacks have been increasing since 2015

Photo: MICHELE CATTANI / AFP

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was shocked by the attack in Burkina Faso, which left more than 100 dead.

The attack was hideous, said Guterres in a statement.

According to UN information, there are also seven children among the victims.

The European Union also condemned the "barbaric and cowardly attacks" and described them as terrorist attacks.

According to President Roch Kaboré, gunmen attacked the village of Solhan in the north of the West African country on Saturday night.

According to the news agencies AFP and Reuters, at least 130 people died.

So far there has been no precise information about the identity and motive of the perpetrators.

Among the victims are "men and women of different ages," reported from security circles.

The attackers had therefore initially attacked the post of a vigilante group that is fighting alongside the army against jihadists.

According to one survivor, they then attacked houses and carried out "executions."

It is the bloodiest attack since jihadist violence began in Burkina Faso in 2015.

Three days of national mourning

The government called the attackers "terrorists" - this term is usually aimed at jihadists.

President Kaboré spoke of a "despicable" act.

The government dispatched forces to "neutralize" the attackers and secure the area.

She also ordered a three-day state mourning.

A few hours before the attack on Solhan, security officials had reported an attack on the village of Tadaryat, which is also near the borders with Mali and Niger.

At least 14 people were killed there late on Friday evening, including 13 civilians.

Looting also occurred in Tadaryat, according to a local source.

Among other things, the attackers robbed cattle and motorcycles.

Burkina Faso is repeatedly plagued by Islamist groups who invade the country from neighboring Mali.

Burkina Faso is located in the Sahel - an area that stretches south of the Sahara from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.

Armed groups are active there, some of which have sworn allegiance to "Islamic State" or Al-Qaeda.

Burkina Faso was spared attacks for a long time, but their number has increased significantly since 2015.

According to the UN, more than 1.2 million people are now on the run in their own country.

More than 1,400 people died in fighting and attacks.

lov / dpa / Reuters