Al Qaeda-Linked Group Claims 200 Soldiers Killed in Burkina Faso Military Base Attack

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

An Al Qaeda-affiliated militant group has claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on a military base in northern Burkina Faso, reportedly killing 200 soldiers, according to the US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

The attack targeted a military installation in the town of Djibo early Sunday morning. According to local security sources, militants also struck a police station and a nearby market during the coordinated assault. While Burkina Faso authorities have yet to release an official death toll, eyewitnesses from Djibo told Reuters that dozens of soldiers and civilians lost their lives in the violence.

SITE reported that Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al Qaeda-linked faction active in the Sahel region, released a formal statement claiming responsibility. The group described the operation as part of its intensified campaign across Burkina Faso in recent weeks.

“This operation is part of JNIM’s escalated activity in the region, which has resulted in a significant number of military and civilian casualties,” SITE stated.

Earlier, SITE had reported the appearance of Ousmane Dicko, the leader of JNIM in Burkina Faso, in a video urging civilians to evacuate Djibo, warning of impending violence.

The incident highlights the growing threat posed by extremist groups in the Sahel, where insurgents continue to challenge state control despite regional and international counterterrorism efforts.