Burkina Faso : Army intensifies hunt for perpetrators of February 25 attacks

In Burkina Faso, the military continued their offensives on Thursday, February 29, 2024, against a terrorist group responsible for the attack on Natiaboani. During the operations, strikes were successfully carried out.

The combat forces deployed all their strength in tracking down the terrorist group responsible for the Natiaboani attack. The surviving terrorist group from the attack on February 25th did not anticipate the determination of the combat forces.

Consequently, the small band of criminals quietly headed towards the locality on Thursday to join other terrorist hideouts.

While they were waiting for another, larger group to join them later, a missile streaked across the sky and struck them with unprecedented violence.

In a desperate effort to flee, the few survivors eventually collapsed far away, their vehicles literally destroyed by the firepower.

2024, a Year of Hope

The Minister in charge of Security, Emile Zerbo, stated on Thursday in Ouagadougou, at the 2024 annual review of the Defense-Security Sectorial Dialogue Framework (CSD-DS), that 2024 is shaping up as the year of hope for the complete reconquest of Burkinabe territory.

« Winning the bet for peace and security is more than ever a priority for the government… » said the Minister in charge of territorial administration, decentralization, and security, Emile Zerbo.

According to Mr. Zerbo, efforts will continue to enable the Defense and Security Forces, as well as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP), to benefit from the necessary conditions to better address security challenges.

For the minister, the current review takes place at a time when significant offensives engaged on the ground by « our Defense and Security Forces and by the VDP », as part of the fight against terrorism, have already liberated some localities in the country, facilitating the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the reopening of certain public services.

In Mr. Zerbo’s opinion, significant progress has been made through measures such as strengthening the operational capacities of the defense and security forces, acquiring operational and strategic equipment, increasing personnel and providing continuous training for security personnel, addressing the humanitarian crisis, and promoting initiatives for social cohesion and coexistence.

Sadia Nyaoré