An attack on a military base by suspected insurgents in Burkina Faso has left at least 12 soldiers and four volunteers dead.
Security sources on Friday said 21 troops were also injured in the attack on the Namissiguima military detachment in the north.
The gunmen are reported to have first attacked the camp with shells, after which shooting followed.
The military explained that reinforcements have been deployed to secure the area. The attack comes at a time when the armed forces launched an operation to “de-pollute” localities in the region.
The raids in Burkina Faso were carried out by the militants from bases in neighbouring Mali in 2015.
The chain of violence has displaced over 1.8 million people.
In January, military officers seized power and ousted President Roch Kaboré, blaming him for failing to stem the spate of insurgency by groups allied to al-Qaeda. In March, about 10 soldiers were killed in Burkina Faso’s eastern region.