Burkina offers up to 275,000 euros for 'actively wanted terrorists'

Burkina Faso's security services, plagued by recurrent jihadist violence, published on Thursday (June 8th) a list of 20 "actively wanted terrorists", offering bonuses for their arrest or "neutralization" ranging from 150,000 to 275,000 euros. The individuals, whose portraits have been broadcast on local media, are "actively sought for participation in or complicity in the planning or conduct of terrorist acts". "If you provide information, likely to allow the arrest or neutralization of one of these individuals, you will receive the amount indicated on the photo of the concerned," says a message from the Ministry in charge of Security, published with the portraits.

At the top of the list are Sidibé Dramane alias Hamza and Diallo Moussa alias Abou Ganiou, aged 45 and 40 respectively. The Burkinabe authorities are offering 180 million CFA francs (about 275,000 euros) for the capture of each of them. "Hamza" is close to Malian Amadou Koufa, a senior leader of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim in Arabic), the main coalition affiliated with al-Qaeda in the Sahel. On the list are also leaders of katiba (combat unit of jihadist groups) including Dicko Hamadoun alias Suu-ka Maldê and Bolly Oumarou alias Oumi whose heads are put at a price for 175 million FCFA (265.00 euros) each. The wanted persons are all Burkinabè, mostly born in the northern region, with the exception of Sita Housseini alias Lookmann, a 33-year-old Nigerien man.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been caught in a spiral of jihadist violence that began in Mali and Niger a few years ago and has spread beyond their borders. Over the past seven years, the violence has killed more than 10,000 civilians, military and military, according to NGOs, and more than two million internally displaced people. According to the government, the army controls 65% of the national territory. Burkina Faso has been ruled since last September by a military junta with Captain Ibrahim Traoré at its head, who came to power after a coup, the second in eight months.