Burkina Faso: Gendarmerie vehicle hits mine in Kabonga (east) Sept. 5

Event

A gendarmerie vehicle hit either a mine or an improvised explosive device (IED) in the town of Kabonga (Kompienga province; east) on Wednesday, September 5. At least two gendarmes were killed in the blast and five others wounded. The vehicle was initially deployed to search for explosive devices in the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Eight gendarmes were previously killed by a roadside mine on the road between Fada N'Gourma and Pama (Kompienga province) on August 28.

Terrorism has become an increasingly serious security threat in Burkina Faso, especially in the northern Sahel region, since 2015. Educational institutions, officials and security forces are particularly targeted. Initially recurrent in the Sahel region, attacks tend to spread to other regions, including eastern Burkina Faso, which is known for significant criminal activities. 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 in Burkina Faso, particularly areas within 40 km (25 mi) of the Malian border, as well as in the southeastern Tapoa province, near the Niger 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.