At least three Burkinabè gendarmes were killed this Sunday and several are missing, during an attack by suspected jihadists against a military convoy, in eastern Burkina Faso, we learned from security and local sources.
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"
A gendarmerie escort team was the target of an ambush in which three elements lost their lives,
" a security source told AFP.
The attack took place "
shortly after 1
p.m.", near Sakoani, a small locality located on the Matiakoali - Kantchari axis, near the Niger border, while the team was providing a logistical escort mission for the benefit of of the mining company of Boungou.
"
The attackers planted explosive devices on the road, before opening fire on the convoy
", explained another security source, confirming "
the death of three elements of the defense and security forces
".
1,500 dead in the attacks
"
Other (elements) are still missing, but research is underway to find them and track down the attackers,
" added the same source, without further details on the number of missing persons. According to a local source, "
a civilian was also killed, probably a member of the volunteers for the defense of the fatherland
", civilian auxiliaries engaged in the anti-jihadist fight alongside the army.
A poor country in West Africa, Burkina Faso has been plagued since 2015 by regular and deadly jihadist attacks, particularly in the northern and eastern regions, like its neighbors Mali and Niger. Jihadist groups often attack workers in gold mines. In November 2019, an attack in Boungou left at least 38 dead. These attacks, often coupled with ambushes and attributed to jihadist groups affiliated with the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda, killed more than 1,500 and forced more than 1.3 million people to flee their homes.
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