Jihadist Attacks Leave Eight Dead in Burkina Faso

A fresh wave of jihadist attacks has rocked Burkina Faso, leaving seven police officers and one soldier dead. The attacks, carried out by militants linked to Al-Qaeda, come as the country continues to battle growing insecurity despite promises of stability by the ruling military junta.

Two of the attacks occurred near the eastern town of Fada N’Gourma, close to the border with Niger, where extremist groups are known to operate. According to a resident who spoke with AFP, “Last Monday, terrorists launched an attack against the police post of the university of Fada N’Gourma, north of the town.” The attack reportedly caught officers off guard.

In an official document seen by AFP, Burkina Faso’s police director general, Wennelebsida Jean-Alexandre Darga, confirmed that seven officers were killed in the assault. Just three days later, the same location came under fire again. “Three days later, the terrorists again attacked the site of the university… this time causing damage to the building,” said a student, who also confirmed the June 30 incident.

The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group, has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

On the same day as the second university attack, June 30, another assault occurred near Boulsa, in central Burkina Faso. According to a security source, the jihadists targeted an army position, killed a soldier, and took two civilian volunteer fighters captive. JNIM later published a video showing the two captured men inside a hut, urging authorities to negotiate their release.

Although the ruling junta in Burkina Faso, which seized power in September 2022, has repeatedly stated that national security is its top priority, attacks by extremist groups continue to escalate. Since 2015, more than 26,000 people — both civilians and military personnel — have been killed due to terrorist violence, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Disturbingly, over half of those deaths have occurred in the last three years alone.

Despite repeated attacks and mounting casualties, the military government rarely comments publicly on jihadist activity. Meanwhile, residents across affected communities live in fear, often with limited protection and little communication from officials.

These latest attacks underscore the growing threat posed by extremist groups in the Sahel region and the urgent need for better coordination, both locally and across neighboring borders. As Burkina Faso’s civilians and volunteer fighters continue to bear the brunt of the violence, calls are growing louder for a more strategic, people-centered approach to national security.