Dibilou massacre

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Dibilou massacre
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso
Location Dibilou, Centre-Nord Region, Burkina Faso
DateJuly 25, 2019
4:45 pm
Deaths22
PerpetratorUnknown jihadists
No. of participants
~50

On July 25, 2019, unknown jihadists attacked the village of Dibilou, Centre-Nord Region, Burkina Faso, killing 22 civilians.

Contents

Background

Northern Burkina Faso has been a hotbed of jihadist activity since the start of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso. [1] Tensions between Mossi groups and Fulani groups after the Yirgou massacre in early 2019 led to clashes between these groups in the city of Arbinda in April. [2] The tensions were stoked by the Fulani-majority jihadist group Ansarul Islam, which has a large presence in Soum. [2] On June 10, an Ansarul Islam attack killed 19 civilians in the center of Arbinda. [2] Eight days later, jihadists attacked Belehede, killing eighteen civilians.

Massacre

At the time of the attack, the town of Dibilou had no government-sponsored self-defense militia. [3] This militia had departed the town in early January. [3] A survivor of the massacre in Dibilou stated that around 25 motorcycles, each with two men on them, entered the town at around 4:45pm on July 25. The attackers immediately began shooting at residents, with many hiding in their homes. [3] During the attack, the perpetrators torched the market and several homes. [3]

All of the victims were of Mossi descent, and many bodies were found in the market and in their home. [3] Several other bodies were discovered in their farms on the outskirts of the town. [3] 22 people were killed during the massacre. [3]

Aftermath

Many residents of Dibilou and the neighboring town of Rofenega fled elsewhere following the attack, with many settling in Kaya. [4] No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

References

  1. Macé, Célian. "Au Burkina Faso, l'horreur de la guerre de proximité". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  2. 1 2 3 "At least 19 killed in Burkina Faso attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Burkina Faso: Armed Islamist Atrocities Surge | Human Rights Watch". 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  4. "Burkina Faso: New Massacres by Islamist Armed Groups | Human Rights Watch". 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2025-04-30.