Islamic extremist rebels killed at least 47 people in northern Burkina Faso as violence in the region intensifies. The latest attack Wednesday occurred near the northern town of Arbinda in West Africa's Sahel region.
State media reported that among those that were confirmed to have been killed by the rebels were 30 civilians, 14 government soldiers, and three pro-government militiamen. During the attack, state media claimed that at least 16 rebels had been killed. Other sources put the number higher at around 58 rebel fighters.
Since violence erupted in the region, hundreds of people have been killed by rebel groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq, and the Levant (ISIL). These groups have conducted numerous attacks in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, killing hundreds of innocent civilians.
Violence in the Sahel region, which is located just beneath the Sahara Desert, has intensified despite the strong presence of United Nations troops. Burkina Faso, which is a former French colony, has been attempting to negotiate with the rebel groups but to no avail.
Last week, rebel fighters killed at least 12 government soldiers in northwestern Burkina Faso. The clash also resulted in the deaths of at least 30 civilians. Earlier in the week, another group of armed rebel fighters killed 37 civilians, including 14 children, during an attack on a small village in Niger.
Burkina Faso, formerly known as the Republic of Upper Volta, is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordering Mali to the northwest, Benin to the southeast, Niger to the northeast, and Ghana to the south. Due to its colonial past, the country's official language and its government structure are French.
Rebel groups have recently become emboldened after France announced that it would withdraw part of its forces from the Sahel region. The French government previously announced that it would be reducing its forces in the region from 5,000 to about 2,500.
The Sahel region was initially thrown into chaos in 2012 after a group linked to al-Qaeda took over large portions of northern Mali. France immediately sent troops to its former colony to intervene. French troops were able to push back the group. However, the Islamic rebels have since regrouped and expanded their operations, threatening large parts of the West African coast, including Ivory Coast and Benin.
