Nassougou attack

Last updated
Nassougou attack
Part of Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso
DateAugust 8, 2024
Location
Result JNIM victory
Belligerents

Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso

Islamic State flag.svg Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Strength

~1,000 soldiers

1 helicopter
Unknown
Casualties and losses
150–200 killed
116 vehicles destroyed (per JNIM)
Unknown

On August 8, 2024, a convoy of Burkinabe army vehicles headed to Fada N'Gourma from Diapaga were ambushed by militants from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), killing between 150 and 200 Burkinabe soldiers and militiamen. While the Burkinabe junta has not released a statement confirming the death toll, the attack marks the deadliest incident against Burkinabe soldiers since the start of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso.

Contents

Background

Violence by jihadist groups increased exponentially since the September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état that overthrew putschist Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who came to power in a coup that January. [1] Much of the violence was caused by the al-Qaeda-aligned Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and its affiliates in Burkina Faso and the Islamic State – Sahil Province, which have besieged towns and launched deadly attacks on Burkinabe soldiers and pro-government militiamen. [2]

In early July, a convoy of traders escorted by the Burkinabe Army left Fada N'Gourma, Est Region with the aim of supplying Diapaga. [3] The two towns were 150 kilometers apart, but the convoy followed an arc bending north to supply other towns along the way. [3] Slowed down by the explosions of several landmines, the convoy reached Diapaga on the night between July 15 and 16. [3] It continued further towards Partiaga, twenty-five kilometers southwest, to supply the area with reinforcements. [3] The convoy then continued further towards Tawori, near the village of Kalbouli and the Boungou gold mine. [3]

The convoy began its return journey in early August, taking a different route through Ougarou, which was the fastest route to Fada N'Gourma. [3] The road passed through a forest controlled by jihadists from JNIM, and hadn't been in use since a November 2019 attack that left 39 people dead. [3]

Attack

At the time of the return, the convoy consisted of about 1,000 men from various parts of the Burkinabe Armed Forces. Soldiers from BIR1 and BIR5 of the Rapid Intervention Battalions were present along with militiamen from the VDP. A Burkinabe security source attested that around 500 of the men were from the BIRs. [4] [3]

Several small groups of jihadists launched the attack on the convoy on August 8, between 3 pm and 4 pm in the village of Nassougou. [3] [4] The helicopter escorting the convoy was forced to ascend to avoid gunfire, and could hardly retaliate. [3] The traders and wounded in the convoy consolidated near the back of the convoy before heading to Boungou and Tawori. [3]

A statement by the Burkinabe junta was released on August 11, attempting to spin the attack into a victory. [4] [3] Local security sources, however, reported a large number of dead, wounded, and missing among the soldiers. [3] Dozens of bodies were received by the Fada N'Gourma morgue, which quickly became oversaturated. [3] JNIM also released images of burnt-out trucks and vehicles, large caches of looted weapons, and dead soldiers lying in bushes. [3]

Aftermath

No official death toll has been reported by the Burkinabe army. [3] Sources speaking to RFI stated that the fighting was very violent and dozens of bodies had been found, although the toll could be even higher. [4] Libération reported that local security sources fluctuated between a death toll of 150 and 200, making the attack the worst massacre against Burkinabe soldiers by JNIM since the start of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso. [3]

JNIM claimed the deaths of 140 soldiers, the destruction of 116 vehicles. and the capture of 70 AK-47 rifles and 21 rocket launchers. [3]

On August 13, the Burkinabe junta released a statement with images claiming the destruction of a jihadist base in the area of Nassougou. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso</span> Ongoing insurgency in Burkina Faso (2015–present)

An ongoing war and civil conflict between the Government of Burkina Faso and Islamist rebels began in August 2015 and has led to the displacement of over 2 million people and the deaths of at least 10,000 civilians and combatants.

On June 11, 2022, jihadists from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara attacked the town of Seytenga, Séno Province, Burkina Faso, killing over a hundred civilians in a massacre. The massacre occurred after Burkinabe forces evacuated the city following ISGS' takeover of the Burkinabe base in the town on June 9.

On September 26, 2022, a convoy bound for the besieged city of Djibo in northern Burkina Faso was attacked by armed gunmen, killing 27 soldiers and 10 civilians. The Mali-based jihadist group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the attack. The Gaskinde attack was a key reason for the September 30 coup in Burkina Faso, as many frontline officers were disgruntled about Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba's handling of the jihadist insurgency.

On March 20, 2022, unknown jihadists ambushed Burkinabe soldiers in Natiaboani, Gourma Province, Burkina Faso, killing thirteen soldiers and an unknown number of jihadists.

On September 4, 2023, clashes broke out between jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Burkinabe soldiers backed by pro-government VDP militiamen in the village of Koumbri, Yatenga Province, Burkina Faso. The battle left over fifty Burkinabe soldiers and militiamen dead and an unknown number of jihadists killed.

On October 29, 2022, gunmen from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin ambushed a convoy of Burkinabé soldiers near the village of Kikideni while they were on their way from Fada N'gourma to Natiaboani, Est Region, Burkina Faso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barsalogho massacre</span> Central Burkina Faso massacre by jihadist insurgents

On August 24, 2024, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) killed over 600 civilians digging trenches for the Burkinabe government around the town of Barsalogho, Sanmatenga Province, Burkina Faso. The massacre is the deadliest in Burkinabe history, and the deadliest attack in the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso.

On December 27, 2018, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin attacked Burkinabe soldiers in Loroni, northern Burkina Faso, killing ten soldiers. The attack was the deadliest incident for Burkinabe forces since the Nassoumbou attack in 2016.

On August 8, 2021, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin ambushed Burkinabe forces in Dounkoun, Toeni Department, Burkina Faso, killing twelve soldiers.

On August 18, 2021, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin ambushed a convoy of Burkinabe soldiers and civilians near Boukouma, Séno Province, Burkina Faso. The ambush sparked clashes between the jihadists and the soldiers, leaving dozens dead on both sides. At least 65 civilians were killed in the ambush as well.

On November 14, 2021, jihadists from Ansarul Islam and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin attacked the mining town of Inata, Burkina Faso, the last place in Djibo Department under Burkinabe government control at the time of the attack. The Burkinabe outpost in Inata was overrun and over fifty soldiers were killed. The attack was the deadliest ambush against Burkinabe forces since the start of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso in 2015, and was a primary reason for the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état.

The siege of Madjoari began in February 2021 and lasted until May 25, 2022, as part of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso. Jihadists from Ansarul Islam and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin began attacking the city, controlled by Burkinabe forces and the pro-government Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), and ambushed Burkinabe troops and cut off supply lines. Civilians in Madjoari starved, and almost all of them fled to elsewhere in Burkina Faso or to Benin. In May 2022, as the siege came to an end, the jihadists overran the Burkinabe military base and then massacred over fifty civilians fleeing in the Singou massacre.

On May 21, 2022, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin attacked the city of Bourzanga, Burkina Faso, but the attack was repelled by Burkinabe and French forces.

The Tin-Ediar attack or Déou attack occurred on February 17, 2023 when Burkinabe soldiers were ambushed by the Islamic State – Sahil Province (ISGS) near the village of Tin-Ediar while travelling between Déou and Oursi, Burkina Faso. Over 70 Burkinabe soldiers were killed in the ambush, and Burkinabe authorities stated 160 ISGS fighters were killed.

On April 27, 2023, jihadists from the Katiba Hanifa of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin launched an attack on Burkinabe forces in Ougarou, Est Region, Burkina Faso. Around 33 Burkinabe soldiers and VDP were killed along with 40 jihadists.

On June 26, 2023, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin ambushed a Burkinabe convoy near Namssiguia, Bam Province, Burkina Faso. The attack and subsequent battle killed 34 Burkinabe soldiers, with Burkinabe authorities stating over 40 jihadists were killed.

On June 26, 2023, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin attacked pro-government Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) militiamen in Noaka, Sanmatenga Province, Burkina Faso. Over 33 VDP were killed in the attack, and Burkinabe officials claimed that over 50 jihadists were killed.

On March 31, 2024, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin attacked Burkinabe forces in Tawori, Tapoa Province, Burkina Faso. Over seventy Burkinabe soldiers were killed and thirty-two civilians were killed during the attack and the subsequent massacre.

On June 11, 2024, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) attacked the town of Mansila and it's military base, killing over a hundred Burkinabe soldiers. The attack weakened public perception of the Burkinabe junta and sparked tensions between the junta and disgruntled military officers.

Throughout May 2024, a convoy carrying soldiers from the Burkina Faso Armed Forces and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland committed several massacres against civilians in eastern Burkina Faso, killing at least 400 civilians during the convoy's journey between April 27 and May 10. The massacres occurred in a similar area to the Nondin and Soro massacres and Bibgou and Soualimou massacres that occurred a few months earlier.

References

  1. "Militant Islamist Group Violence Engulfs Burkina Faso" (PDF). Africa Center for Strategic Studies. August 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  2. "The juntas dig in as instability worsens". www.africa-confidential.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Faivre, Agnès. "Au Burkina, au moins 150 soldats tués dans l'attaque d'un convoi". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Burkina Faso: nouvelle attaque contre un convoi des forces de défense et sécurité dans l'Est". RFI (in French). 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  5. Siba, Abdallah (2024-08-19). "Burkina : L'armée anéantit une grande base terroriste à Nassougou (Est)". Burkina24.com - Actualité du Burkina Faso 24h/24 (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-14.