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Burkina Faso’s transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, estimated Tuesday that a new “phase” against civilians was “caused by terrorists” days after the kidnapping of about 50 women in the north of the country.
“Today another stage has been triggered by terrorists. On the military side, our men are determined to stand up to them, so they are beginning to attack, humiliate and kill innocent civilians. ‘ proclaimed the President. Traoré in a meeting with students from all over the country at the University of Ouagadougou.
About 50 women were kidnapped by suspected Islamic extremists on Thursday and Friday in two neighborhoods north and west of the town of Albinda (North), according to local authorities. Ground and air searches are underway to find them. The United Nations demanded their “immediate” release.
READ MORE: Burkina Faso: Nearly 50 women kidnapped in north by suspected Islamic extremists
Arbinda is located in the Sahel region, an area blockaded by jihadist groups with difficult supplies. A security source contacted by AFP said “Arbinda’s supply started on Tuesday morning.”
“There were two helicopter rotations this morning for supplies. Ten people have launched a demonstration demanding the supply of this helicopter,” said Suleiman, a resident contacted by AFP.
“We really needed this supply by air. The ideal would be to have a ground convoy very quickly as we have a large population and rely solely on these supplies to keep us going without starving. added Amadou, another resident.
On Tuesday evening, the Burkinabe General Staff called for “to all persons of good will to make available to the army free or at a social price trucks with chauffeurs for transporting food and basic necessities. Demanded: “supplying people living in areas with serious security problems.”
READ MORE: Search Underway for 50 Women Kidnapped in Burkina Faso
Captain Traoré came to power at the end of September in his second coup in eight months, promising to tackle jihadist violence that has targeted civilians as well as soldiers for years.
“Since October, the number of attacks has doubled,” he admitted Tuesday. According to him, jihadist groups, especially prevalent in the north and east of the country, “began working” to “dissuade” the new authorities of the transition from the outset.
“We are determined to solve this terror problem. This war, we did not choose it. Burkinaby attacked no one. I did,” he claimed.
Burkina Faso, especially its northern half, has faced increasing attacks since 2015 by jihadist groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and Islamic State. They killed thousands and displaced at least two million people from their homes.
According to the United Nations, nearly 1 million people now live in the cordoned off areas in the north or east of the country.
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