Gunmen attack French embassy and army headquarters in Burkina Faso
Gunmen attacked the army's headquarters in the capital of Burkina Faso on Friday
as well as the downtown area and France's embassy, and the French ambassador
said an explosion in the city was a terrorist attack.
It was not clear who was behind the violence but Burkina Faso and other West
African countries have been targeted by jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and
Islamic State in the past few years.
A local news station showed pictures of black smoke coming from a building in
central Ouagadougou and a Reuters correspondent found that most people had fled
the streets.
"Attack under way at the French Embassy and French Institute. Stay hidden
where you are," the embassy said in a statement posted on its Facebook site.
A French official in Paris confirmed that an assault against the embassy was
under way, as well as against the Burkina Faso army headquarters.
An explosion rocked the army headquarters and then gunfire rang out in the
vicinity. A witness said masked gunmen with backpacks had attacked the army
headquarters shortly before the explosion.
Islamist militants have gained a stronger foothold in Africa's vast Sahel
region in the last few years, launching attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory
Coast and Niger.
Suspected jihadists killed at least 18 people last August during a raid on a
restaurant in Ouagadougou, and militants have targeted Burkinabe security forces
along its remote northern border region with Mali.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for an attack
on a restaurant and hotel in Ouagadougou in January 2016 in which 30 people were
killed.
Five countries launched a new taskforce last year to tackle Islamist
militants in the region, to which international donors have committed half a
billion dollars.
Jean-Marc Châtaigner, France's ambassador to West Africa's Sahel region,
tweeted: "Terrorist attack this morning in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: solidarity
with colleagues and Burkinabe friends." He urged people to avoid the city
center.
After the first big blast, the sound of a series of smaller explosions and
exchanges of gunfire came from the direction of the headquarters. It ceased by
around noon.
Source: Reuters
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