According to a statement from the army, at least 15 soldiers were killed in northern Burkina Faso when a transport vehicle plowed over a buried explosive, killing several soldiers before a second blast killed those who tried to help them.
The incident took place on a backroad in the Bam province in the country’s Central-North region, where armed groups frequently target soldiers and civilians. Since at least 2015, individuals and groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda have been active in the area.
The army released a statement on Tuesday claiming that the attack took place during an escort mission.
“One of the vehicles in the convoy, which was carrying troops, hit an explosive device near Namsiguia district in Bam province.
“While rescue and security operations were being organised, a second device was obviously activated remotely, causing numerous casualties,” it said.
The incident has not yet been claimed by any organisation, but the army said investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible.
A similar ambush in the Bam region earlier this month claimed the lives of nine civilian army volunteers and four troops.
Anger about the government’s failure to improve the nation’s security led to a military coup in January that overthrew former President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and installed Burkina Faso’s current government.
According to a mediator for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), only 60% of Burkina Faso was under government authority in June.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project found that between February and May, there were more than 530 violent occurrences nationwide, more than twice as many as there were in the corresponding time in 2021.
More than 1.85 million people have been displaced by the unrest in Burkina Faso, and hundreds have died as a result in the Sahel region of West Africa.