An Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Burkina Faso claimed responsibility for the attack in Barsalogho, including on civilians.
Militant violence is increasing in Africa, with Tuareg activity in neighbouring Mali entering a more intense phase. In August, Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine amid reports that the European country’s intelligence services were aiding Tuareg rebels.
On 21 August, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso requested the UN Security Council to take action against Ukraine and its support for terrorism on the continent, the African countries stated in a joint letter.
Recently, the spokesman of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of Ukraine’s Defence Ministry, Andriy Yusov, claimed that Ukraine was supporting a number of African groups, including Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), operating in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
According to the allegations, HUR specialists helped to plan attacks against fighters of the Private Military Company Wagner, known as the Wagner Group, in Mali.
Support for local organisations internationally recognised as terrorists is forcing African countries to turn to international bodies in search of justice. They increasingly accuse Ukraine of providing information, technical and other assistance to terrorist groups that carry out mass attacks in Africa, such as the latest one in Burkina Faso.
