#BurkinaFaso: A thread on military operations and the militant groups straddling the borders of several West African coastal states
#BurkinaFaso: To begin with several of these countries are on the alert, fearing spillover [or maybe even expansion] of violent militant activities into their countries, debatable if that will happen,..
#BurkinaFaso: ..non-violent activities is a reality though, movements, recruitment, logistic transfers. #Benin experienced what so far is a one-off incident with the killing of a Beninese tour guide and the abduction of a French couple
#BurkinaFaso: As for now, jihadi groups are focusing on tightening their grip on Burkina’s east, the situation could be described as close to overt control, relevant along the borders are the areas of Pama, Logobou, Diapaga, Kantchari, and around Tamou on the Nigerien side..
#BurkinaFaso: Hence, they are entrenching themselves in and around Parc W, these areas border #Togo and #Benin, concerns are legitimate as reported here: afp.com/en/news/826/wo…
#BurkinaFaso: In October-November 2019, FDS scored a success by taking out a smaller cell in the Nahouri Province, near the border with #Ghana, in the last operation killing the ringleader & associates, the area hasn’t experienced any attacks or notable activity ever since..
#BurkinaFaso: Eventual remnants hibernated, joined other areas or demobilized
#BurkinaFaso: A bigger issue is found along the border with #IvoryCoast, where there’s been successive military operations against a local #KatibaMacina-branch,..
#BurkinaFaso: ..a proto-katiba with the nucleus found around Alidougou, the first village in Burkinabe territory when entering from #IvoryCoast, and cells in the nearby areas of Mangodara, Ouo, Sideradougou, Niangoloko, Banfora, etc
#BurkinaFaso: As of yet, military operations to dislodge the militants have been disruptive, not so much more, at least three major sweeps have been carried out (October 2019, January 2020, and one ongoing)
#BurkinaFaso: This AFP report claims that the group since eight months is holed up in the surroundings of the Comoé National Park in #IvoryCoast after being chased by Burkinabe troops, not true for several reasons.. information.tv5monde.com/afrique/togo-a… 
#BurkinaFaso: 1. Military ops are ongoing since May 12
2. 15 attacks have taken place in the area in the past 8 months
3. 9 attacks during the first 4 months of this year (compared to at least 18 attacks in 2019)
2. 15 attacks have taken place in the area in the past 8 months
3. 9 attacks during the first 4 months of this year (compared to at least 18 attacks in 2019)
#BurkinaFaso: 4. Lastly, an ambush happened this afternoon in the area of Touroukoro, north of Mangodara, #Comoé, 7 militants reportedly killed and 1 soldier wounded
#BurkinaFaso: Apparently, the coordination between #Burkina and #IvoryCoast still not really on top, as reported by @jeune_afrique jeuneafrique.com/985885/politiq…
#BurkinaFaso: Seems like a "bad habit"..
#BurkinaFaso: On May 14, Ivorian and Burkinabe forces launched a joint operation in the surroundings of the rural village Sangopari, by road about 25km northeast of Ferkessédougou (#Savanes Region), in the extreme north of #IvoryCoast
#BurkinaFaso: The operation aimed at tracking down a militant cell spotted in the area and cutting off escape routes from southern Burkina ended in failure after a senior Ivorian gendarmerie commander leaked the operation to a civilian who then spread the word..
#BurkinaFaso: The commander is now reportedly detained in #Abidjan, where he for the time being is serving a disciplinary punishment ivoirtv.net/actualites/pre…
#BurkinaFaso: Incident underscores a level of mistrust between the two countries, already highlighted by the media imbroglio that followed the previous sweep by the Burkinabes, it's not unlikely that this incident will re-enforce this mistrust lsi-africa.com/fr/actualite-a…
#BurkinaFaso: If one operation failed, another didn't, militant base near #Alidougou, #Comoé, dismantled by joint Burkinabe-Ivorian forces - @radiosomega facebook.com/RadioOmegafmOf…
#BurkinaFaso: As mentioned more then once regarding the importance of this hamlet (9.66882, -4.29263) and its surroundings as the "center of gravity" of militant activities in southwestern Burkina
than*
#BurkinaFaso: Note the rifled single grenade launcher and the RPG-7, any of those likely used in the February 21 attack against the ranger station in Ouangolodougou
#BurkinaFaso-#CoteDivoire Terrorisme: opération antidjihadiste à la frontière entre la Côte d'Ivoire et le Burkina Faso - @lenouvelliste lenouvelliste.ch/articles/monde…
#BurkinaFaso-#CoteDivoire: "Base terroriste d'Alidougou (Burkina Faso) détruite. 08 terroristes tués, 24 suspects interpellés au BF (Burkina Faso), 14 en C.I (Côte d'Ivoire) mis à la disposition des services de renseignements"
en.c4defence.com/AFP/Burkina-Cô…
en.c4defence.com/AFP/Burkina-Cô…
#BurkinaFaso-#CoteDivoire "L’opération Comoé traque les terroristes à Kafono en territoire ivoirien" facebook.com/watch/?v=94650…
