Taanli 3, that is the name of the operation, took place from April 2 to 25 at the border between the two countries. This is not the first time that the two countries have collaborated in the fight against terrorism. They have already been in operations Taanli 1 and 2.
For this third phase, a joint headquarters has been set up in Dori, in the northeast of Burkina Faso. The press kit mentions very significant resources: several hundred soldiers deployed, ground units mobilized, as well as surveillance and combat air assets.
The two staffs are pleased with the success of this operation. They mention an important balance sheet: a hundred terrorists neutralized, 40 others arrested. During civil-military actions, the soldiers also distributed 200 tons of food and medicine to the civilian population.
It should be noted that this military operation took place in the far north of Burkina Faso, where several sources warned last week of probable abuses against civilians. The Burkinabe Ministry of Defense refuted these allegations in a statement issued on Sunday, April 24. It nevertheless announced the opening of an investigation into “these serious allegations.