2025 Diapaga attack

Last updated
2025 Diapaga attack
Part of Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso
DateMarch 28, 2025
Location
Diapaga, Est Region, Burkina Faso
Result JNIM victory
Belligerents

Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso Armed Forces

Islamic State flag.svg Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Commanders and leaders
Yannick Sawadogo  † Unknown
Casualties and losses
63+ killed (per Liberation)
100+ casualties (per Nasr)		 Unknown

On March 28, 2025, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin attacked Burkinabe forces at Diapaga, Est Region, Burkina Faso, killing at least sixty soldiers. The attack was revenge for the massacre of over 58 civilians at Solenzo on March 11. [1]

Contents

Background

Between March 10 and 11, 2025, soldiers from the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland and the Burkinabe Army massacred over 58 Fulani civilians near the town of Solenzo in northwest Burkina Faso. [2] The victims were accused of sheltering jihadists who had attacked VDP fighters earlier that month. [3] Human Rights Watch deplored the massacre, and called for an investigation. [4] HRW also warned of imminent reprisal attacks by jihadist groups. [4]

Attack

The attack began at around 4pm on March 28, when Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) fighters launched an attack on the Burkinabe army and VDP base in Diapaga. [5] The jihadists arrived on motorcycles from the south, and attacked the base south of the town which was housing soldiers from the 27th Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR) and VDP volunteers at the time. [6] During the attack, the jihadists used civilian drones to monitor the movements of the Burkinabe soldiers. [7] After brief resistance, the Burkinabe forces fled. [6] The jihadists looted the camp and then set fire to it. [6]

The attackers then set fire to several buildings in the city of Diapaga, freeing prisoners and looting a cotton company according to RFI. [6] Sahel expert Wassim Nasr contradicted these claims, saying that the jihadists didn't free the prison or loot the cotton company, but instead limited themselves to a few districts of the city to chase after fleeing soldiers. [7]

Aftermath

According to LSI Africa, at least 65 soldiers and VDP were killed during the attack including base commander Yannick Sawadogo. [8] On March 30, RFI reported at least 30 soldiers and 22 VDP were killed, but clarified that the toll could increase. [5] Libération reported that 63 soldiers and VDP were killed. [6] Two weeks after the attack, Nasr stated that at least 100 soldiers and VDP were killed, missing, or injured. [7]

On April 8, JNIM released a statement saying that the Diapaga attack was the "beginning of revenge for Solenzo". [9] Five days earlier, JNIM attacked civilians and VDP conscripts in the Sourou Valley, killing at least 200. [9]

Another attack occurred in Diapaga on May 12th, where JNIM proceeded to raid the city, attacking a prison, destroying monuments, and setting fires to businesses. [10] During the prison attack, prisoners were freed, with some being recruited into the ranks of JNIM. On May 21st, a video was taken showing armed militants speaking to residents stating that city was completely under their control. [11] A Burkinabe military convoy entered the city on June 9th, according to a broadcast from Radio Télévision du Burkina, having left from Fada N'gourma two weeks prior. [12]

References

  1. ↑ Insight, The Africa (2025-04-08). "The Sub-Saharan Security Review". The Africa Insight. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  2. ↑ "Au Burkina Faso, le « train de l'enfer a démarré » pour les Peuls - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  3. ↑ "Au Burkina Faso, l'armée et ses supplétifs accusés d'avoir massacré des civils peuls" (in French). 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  4. 1 2 "Burkina Faso: Government-Allied Militias Linked to Massacre | Human Rights Watch". 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  5. 1 2 "Burkina Faso: une cinquantaine de soldats et de VDP tués dans l'attaque du camp militaire de Diapaga". RFI (in French). 2025-03-29. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Macé, Célian. "Dans l'est du Burkina, les jihadistes prennent d'assaut un camp militaire et font au moins 63 morts". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  7. 1 2 3 FRANCE 24 (2025-04-10). Burkina Faso : les dessous de l'attaque de Diapaga • FRANCE 24 . Retrieved 2025-04-14– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "Nouveau massacre au Burkina : 65 militaires et VDP tués dans une attaque sanglante". LSi Africa (in French). 2025-03-29. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  9. 1 2 Insight, The Africa (2025-04-08). "The Sub-Saharan Security Review". The Africa Insight. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  10. ↑ "Burkina Faso : un groupe jihadiste cible la ville de Diapaga". Jeune Afrique (in French). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  11. ↑ Ganino, Paolo (2025-05-21). "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) Militants Inform the Residents that the Group Now Has Full Control of Diapaga, Tapoa Province". TRAC: Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  12. ↑ "First official video of the army returning to Diapaga". X. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
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