Burkina Faso extends emergency measures for another year to fight terror

Burkina Faso announced an extension of the emergency measures for another year as the war against terrorist groups seems yet to be won.

The measures include summoning people aged 18 to fight and entailed curbing freedoms and forming local defense groups.

Terrorist activity worsened under-development in the poor country and pushed 2 million people out of their homes.

As Jihadist group continue to wreak havoc in the wider Sahel, Burkina Faso suffered the most, accounting for almost a quarter of people killed in terrorist attacks globally in 2023, according to Sydney-based Institute for Economics & Peace.

Earlier this month, Burkina Faso judicial authorities said an attack on a village in Yatenga province left 170 people, including women and children, dead.

The attack came as the military authorities in the country warned against increased risk of attacks by extremist groups, including on urban centers.

The country’s army seized power in 2022, but more than a third of Burkina Faso is controlled by insurgents.