Many of the women who were abducted in Burkina Faso‘s northern Soum province on January 12 and 13 have been demanded to be released immediately by the UN, the US, and France.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed his “concern” at the kidnappings in Burkina Faso, calling them “the first attack of this type specifically targeting women.” The US State Department expressed grave concern.
“Those abducted must be returned safely to their loved ones immediately and unconditionally, and those responsible should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.
France issued a statement denouncing the kidnappings and demanding the women’s immediate release.
Although no one has claimed responsibility, the kidnappings occurred in a region where terrorist activity is common.