A West African al-Qaeda affiliate, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), claimed responsibility for one of Burkina Faso’s deadliest terror attacks in recent history. On Sunday, militants stormed the northern town of Djibo, killing what the group alleges was 200 soldiers in a multi-front assault that overwhelmed military and police installations. Local witnesses confirmed scenes of widespread carnage, with bodies of both civilians and soldiers reportedly left in the streets.
While the government has not confirmed the death toll, military officials accused the terrorists of exaggerating casualties. However, independent observers noted that the army base in Djibo was “razed to the ground,” with prolonged fighting lasting several days. The scale of the attack has raised fresh concerns about the Burkinabe military’s ability to contain jihadist threats.
This assault strikes at a critical moment for Burkina Faso’s military junta, led by Ibrahim Traore. Traore took power after two coups in 2022, ending the country’s longstanding partnership with France and aligning with Russia for security support. Despite promises to reclaim territory from Islamic militants, jihadi violence has escalated, expanding into neighboring countries like Benin.
JNIM’s latest offensive signals a strategic shift — from rural ambushes to overt attempts to seize towns. According to analysts, this development marks a major blow to the junta’s credibility. Military resources such as drones were not deployed during the Djibo attack, despite being available.
As Traore traveled to Moscow for Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, Russian media avoided coverage of the disaster in Djibo, instead portraying him as a rising anti-Western African leader. He was lauded with rhetoric rooted in Marxist nostalgia, drawing comparisons to revolutionary figures like Thomas Sankara.
Human rights organizations, however, have condemned Traore’s regime for political repression, censorship, and violence against dissidents. The junta has used a mix of propaganda, including fake videos of American celebrities praising Traore, and state violence to maintain control.
JNIM, formed in 2017, is a coalition of Salafist-Islamist factions allied with al-Qaeda. It has also collaborated with ISIS-linked groups in the region. The group sustains its operations through drug trafficking, arms smuggling, extortion, and ransom payments from kidnappings. Economic instability and regional lawlessness fuel its recruitment.
The attack on Djibo underscores the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso. According to the International Crisis Group, JNIM has launched near-daily assaults since the beginning of 2025, causing record military losses. Claims by pro-junta outlets that JNIM was defeated in Djibo have been widely dismissed by independent observers.
