Burkina Faso: Local official killed in Koutougou (Soum province) April 8

Event

Unidentified gunmen killed the mayor of the village of Koutougou (Soum province) on Sunday, April 8, before fleeing into the bush. An increased security presence have been deployed in the area, located within the restive Sahel region, to search for the assailants. Additional militant attacks are possible in northern Burkina Faso in the coming weeks.

Context

Terrorism has become an increasingly serious security threat in Burkina Faso, especially in the Sahel region. Attacks are usually attributed to Ansarul Islam and other groups affiliated with Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Meanwhile, rates of criminal violence - much of which is interlinked with terrorist activity - have also recently increased.

Advice

Several Western governments advise against all travel to areas of the northern Sahel region, particularly areas within 40 km (25 mi) of the Malian border. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to traveling to such areas. More generally, individuals across the country are advised to avoid public events and places frequented by Westerners due to the latent risk of terrorist activity and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.