Many dead in Burkina Faso airstrikes targeting rebels

Government forces in Burkina Faso have killed at least 110 terrorists within
a few days in airstrikes targeted at rebel groups in the north and the south of the West African country, the state news agency AIB reports say.

The country’s army spokesperson confirmed the offensive without specifying how many people have been killed.

In the north of Burkina Faso, a night-time curfew and a ban on driving certain types of motorbikes have been in place for days.

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Burkina Faso has been plagued by the activities of several armed rebel groups who have stretched their presence in the wider Sahel region. Some of the groups are sworn affiliates of international terror groups like Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

Last month, up to 70 soldiers were killed in attacks within a few days and about 60 civilians were killed on Feb. 26 by armed men in the Tapoa region. Residents of the area have also repeatedly been victims of the violence as reported by human rights group Burkina Faso Movement for Human and People’s Rights.

There were no official casualty figures in the latest incident.

The governor of the region said security measures were underway amid calls by residents for better protection.

Burkina Faso, a West African country of 21 million people is currently under a transitional government led by President Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power after a military coup in the autumn. The government has so far tried in vain to push back the militants.