Suspected terrorists have killed at least 18 people in northern Burkina Faso and central Mali on Wednesday and Thursday with government linking the attacks to terrorists.
The attacks, believed to have been orchestrated by Al-Qaeda who often terrorise the region, happened despite the presence of more than 15,000 local and foreign soldiers.
The two West African countries are some of the most attacked countries in the last one year with more than 5,000 French troops deployed to the countries, in addition to the presence of 15,000 UN peacekeepers.
Markoye and Torbangou villages were attacked on Thursday in Burkina Faso, as villagers got ambushed on their way to the market across a nearby border in Niger, which is also currently facing security upheavals.
Nine people died and nine were injured in the Burkina Faso attack while Mali also recorded the deaths of nine locals in Bandiagara, Mopti region of the country.
Vehicles were ambushed on the road by the terrorists as they opened fire, and killed many while injuring others.
Security in the Sahel has been an issue with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger all threatened. The Chadian government says it will send troops to its borders along with the three countries that make up the Sahel.
