Death toll in Burkina Faso attack rises to more than 100

KIGALI, Rwanda/ DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – The death toll rose to more than 100 Tuesday from an attack last week by men dressed in military uniforms on a village in northern Burkina Faso.

Residents calling themselves the Survivors of the Karma Attack said in a statement that the “cowardly and barbaric” killing in Yatenga province, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Ouahigouya, occurred during the early morning hours.

The village was surrounded by armed men who arrived in large numbers dressed in Burkinabe military uniforms on motorcycles and vehicles at 7.30 a.m. local time, according to survivors.

“Some villagers, happy to see our soldiers, came out to welcome them. Unfortunately, this joy was short-lived when the first shots were fired … the ensuing stampede immediately replaced the joy,” said the statement.

“To date, we are unable to draw up an exact toll but according to the survivors, more than 100 people were killed and several others wounded by bullets, including women and children,” it said.

A prosecutor said Sunday that at least 60 people were killed.

“The commander of the Ouahigouya gendarmarie research brigade reported to me that in the village of Karma, 60 people were killed by people wearing the uniforms of our national armed forces,” said Lamine Kabore.

He said the wounded were evacuated to local health facilities.

The military seized power in two coups in January and September 2022, accusing the civilian government of failing to provide security to the population.

But attacks have not stopped since the seizure of power and civilians, soldiers and army auxiliaries have died, making the country the most affected by terrorism in Africa and the second most affected in the world, according to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index.