Northern Burkina Faso, similar to large parts of neighbouring Mali and Niger, is a vast, sparsely populated rural area. Civilians caught in middle Burkina Faso’s army, which is inadequately trained and equipped, is mostly entrenched in camps outside the country’s cities. International troops, including French from the Barkhane mission and Chadian from the G5 Sahel force, are also deployed in Burkina Faso’s north. The jihadist groups mainly attack state or army targets, often placing homemade bombs in the path of military vehicles. “There is a kind of malaise within the army which does not favour unity, especially in the fight against jihadists.”

Source: The North Africa Journal June 07, 2021 15:00 UTC