Earth Science News  
AFRICA NEWS
Burkina Faso assesses army failures after deadliest jihadist attack
By Armel BAILY
Ouagadougou (AFP) Nov 24, 2021

A jihadist attack on a base in northern Burkina Faso this month that left at least 57 dead has turned the spotlight on glaring failures by the security forces to protect themselves against a ruthless, highly mobile foe.

On November 14, more than 300 fighters aboard pickups and motorcycles stormed a gendarmerie camp at Inata, according to military sources.

The latest official figures on Monday said 53 police and four other people had been slain -- the deadliest toll among security forces in the six-year-old insurgency.

Around 150 gendarmes were stationed at the camp. So far, only 47 survivors have been found.

On Sunday meanwhile, nine gendarmes and about 10 civilians were killed in an attack on their base at Foube, also in the desert north, security sources say.

Raids by armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have plagued the landlocked Sahel nation since 2015, killing about 2,000 people and displacing 1.4 million from their homes.

- 'The army has no control' -

Pending the findings of an inquiry, the government stripped two military commanders in the northern sector of their posts.

"That we are still looking for survivors is the very sign that the army has no control of the territory, or that it refuses to accept evidence of a heavier toll," said Drissa Traore, a political analyst in Ouagadougou.

According to Loana Charles Ouattara, a retired senior officer, "the Burkinabe army has a serious structural problem -- the top officers are all at headquarters while the country is at war."

Ouattara said small groups of soldiers scattered across the northern region "wait in vain" for reinforcements.

"Either there's a logistical problem or the relief force does not even exist -- and as a result, we had the tragedy of Inata," he said.

"We really need to review the size of army units so as not to be cornered in situations like Inata where the soldiers, deployed in small detachments, are attacked by enemy troops two to three times as large," he added.

The Inata gendarmes had been waiting for relief for several days and they appealed for help shortly before the assault, saying they were running out of ammunition and food.

- War, shame and humiliation -

This attack "is certainly the most shameful, the most humiliating and the one which lays bare our inadequacies as a state," said Labour Minister Benewende Stanislas Sankara.

Guy Herve Kam, a well-known lawyer active in grassroots groups, said the armed forces were "unprepared strategically, tactically, humanly and logistically... As a result, the same causes induce the same effects -- the same tragedies, the same grief, the same bafflement and the same anger".

Outrage at jihadist violence and the powerlessness of the army has frequently spilled over into demonstrations across the country.

Many accuse former colonial power France of being incapable of eradicating jihadists in the Sahel nations where French soldiers have been operating since 2013, or even of being complicit with the armed groups.

Thousands of protesters held up a French military convoy in several Burkinabe towns as it was transiting the country to reach Niger from Ivory Coast.

"In our army's chain of command, some people have failed," Kam said.

"The troops fight on the ground but they are often abandoned to their fate."

For Labour Minister Sankara, Burkina Faso "must restructure the army, take the strongest measures, entrust operations to young officers who have proven themselves".

Highly trained officers "have still not found the right answer to these attacks", Kam said. "Is this incompetence, a lack of loyalty or complicity with the enemies of our people?"


Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


AFRICA NEWS
French army moves convoy after protests in Burkina Faso
Paris (AFP) Nov 21, 2021
France has moved a large military convoy after days of protests against its presence in a central city of Burkina Faso, the army said on Sunday. Local sources said French soldiers had shot and wounded four protesters in Kaya on Saturday - a claim the army has rejected. The army logistics convoy, which has been transiting through the city since Thursday on its way to Niger, left without difficulty on Saturday night, French army spokesman Colonel Pascal Ianni said. The decision to move the co ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

AFRICA NEWS
Croatia's truffle hunters seek habitat protection amid climate change

Turn a global warming liability into a profitable food security solution

EU parliament greenlights farm subsidy plan

Countries must brace for future food 'shocks': FAO

AFRICA NEWS
Why rioters are burning and looting in the Solomon Islands

France ordered to pay compensation for anti-dam protester's death

Fishing nations agree better protection for mako shark

Satellite launched to assist in ocean surveillance

AFRICA NEWS
Collapse of ancient Liangzhu culture caused by climate change

Crisis a chance to green Lebanon: environment minister

Back in the spotlight: Africa's Great Green Wall

Before geoengineering, some fundamental chemistry

AFRICA NEWS
Mystery of high performing novel solar cell materials revealed in stunning clarity

Ultrathin solar cells get a boost

Israel, Jordan agree US-brokered solar power for water deal

Making solar energy even more sustainable with light-powered technology

AFRICA NEWS
Microbes can provide sustainable hydrocarbons for the petrochemical industry

How sugar-loving microbes could help power future cars

Chemical researchers invent bio-petroleum for sustainable materials

Feeding sugar to bacteria may lead to less harmful fuel for cars, trucks

AFRICA NEWS
Tunisian navy 'rescues' almost 500 migrants: ministry

Despite hurdles in Belarus, Iraqi migrants still long for way out

Guns, stress and politics: US road rage shootings on the rise

Hundreds of migrants arrive back in Iraq on flight from Belarus

AFRICA NEWS
Diesel worth $2 mn stolen from US base in Romania

Biden dives into US oil reserves to reassure Americans on inflation

Australian energy firm sparks outrage with new gas project

Austin says US unwavering in 'strong' Mideast security commitment

AFRICA NEWS
Two Myanmar-China border crossings re-open for trade

Asian markets fall again but Europe, crude rebound from virus rout

Most Asian markets drop as data points to faster Fed taper

Chinese city eases rules for developers amid cash crunch









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.