Burkina: more than a dozen soldiers killed in a "major attack" - RFI

By RFPosted on 20-08-2019Modified on 20-08-2019 at 01:34

The Burkinabe armed forces were the target of an attack by "terrorist armed groups" on Monday, August 19, in the north of the country.

The attack took place early Monday around 5am. The General Staff of the Burkinabè armed forces wrote in a statement that the Koutougou detachment in the Soum province was the target of a "major attack " by " terrorist armed groups ". Gunmen with motorcycles and vehicles arrived on the border with Mali, according to a security source.

#Burkina: a military camp attacked this morning in #Koutougou (Soum province). According to a statement from the army, the provisional record is more than a dozen soldiers killed #lwili pic.twitter.com/NKGLqZQZH7

Officially, this attack caused more than a dozen deaths among the military, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. But several security sources speak about twenty dead in the ranks of the armed forces of Burkina Faso. Several soldiers have also been injured and many more are missing. The equipment was set on fire and weapons were carried away by the attackers.

In response to this attack, a large air and ground sweep operation was used to neutralize many attackers, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

By expressing its solidarity with the defense and security forces, the Burkinabe government, through its spokesperson, reaffirms its determination to secure people and property throughout the country.

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