An armed assault on a military base in Dargo, northern Burkina Faso, has reportedly left around 50 soldiers dead. Local sources, speaking under anonymity due to fear of military reprisals, blamed the attack on the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Around 100 militants are said to have carried out the assault on last Monday, looting and burning the base after killing the troops. The Burkinabè military government has not yet officially acknowledged the incident.
The attack underscores the deepening insecurity gripping Burkina Faso, where extremist groups like JNIM have taken control of vast areas, particularly outside the capital. JNIM has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks across West Africa. Despite the military-led government’s promises to restore security, the crisis has worsened under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, whose administration came to power following successive coups.