Burkina Faso says 53 soldiers, volunteers killed in clashes with militants

Seventeen soldiers and 36 volunteer fighters died in a fierce clash with militants in the northern region of Burkina Faso on Monday, according to a statement released by the army on Tuesday. The West African nation has been grappling with Islamist insurgents, some with connections to al Qaeda and the Islamic State, in its arid northern region since 2015. This year, attacks have intensified, transforming Burkina Faso into the focal point of violence in the Sahel region. The most recent confrontation occurred in Yatenga province, where the military has been striving to reclaim territory so that displaced residents can go back to their homes, as mentioned in the statement. Operations to address the situation are still ongoing in the area.

Reuters