March 2023 Aorema massacre
| March 2023 Aorema massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso | |
| Location | Aorema, Ouahigouya Department, Yatenga Province, Burkina Faso |
| Date | March 2, 2023 |
| Deaths | 14 |
| Perpetrator |  Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin |
On March 2, 2023, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) attacked the village of Aorema, Yatenga Province, Burkina Faso. They killed fourteen civilians.
Background
[edit]Much of northern Burkina Faso has been the frontline of an insurgency waged by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara since 2015, with these groups intensifying their attacks on civilians seen as sympathetic to the government since 2019.[1] These jihadist groups had been known to invade Aorema multiple times over the past few years demanding zakat and that the youth not enter restaurants.[2]
Massacre
[edit]On March 2, JNIM fighters entered a restaurant in Aorema where a bunch of youth were gathered and fired indiscriminately on them.[2] Seven people were killed in the restaurant on the spot, and three died in their homes from stray bullets.[3][4] Fourteen people were killed in the attacks, including those who died of their injuries.[1] In response to the attack, Burkinabe authorities established a province-wide curfew from 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. until March 31 the next day. Burkinabe officials also stated that they were conducting counter-terrorism operations to find the perpetrators.[3]
Aftermath
[edit]JNIM attacked Aorema again on April 16, 2023, killing forty people and injuring 33 others. Many of the dead were VDP civilian volunteers sent to the area to fight JNIM.[5] While no group claimed responsibility for the March massacre, JNIM was suspected of the attack.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Burkina Attacks Continue". Voice of America. 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ a b "Burkina Attacks Continue". Voice of America. 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ a b Studies, the Africa Center for Strategic. "Revue de presse du 6 mars 2023". Centre d’Études Stratégiques de l’Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ "Suspected JNIM assault in Aorema, Burkina Faso". TRAC Terrorism. March 9, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ "Forty Dead in Attack on Army and Volunteers in North Burkina Faso". Voice of America. 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ "April Alerts and March Trends 2023". International Crisis Group. April 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.