53 killed in the Burkina Faso army, ECOWAS condemns
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the attack that left 53 people dead on Monday, including 17 soldiers and 36 volunteer fighters in the ranks of the Burkina Faso army in northern Burkina Faso.
"The ECOWAS Commission was shocked to learn of the death of some fifty soldiers and Volunteers for the Defence of the homeland (VDP) as a result of fighting against armed groups in the locality of Koumbri, in the north of Burkina Faso, on 4 September 2023," the communiqué said.
ECOWAS condemned these terrorist attacks and expressed its solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso. The national army said on Tuesday that as part of the recapture of the town of Koumbri (Yatenga-Nord province), the 12th Commando Infantry Regiment (12ème RIC) had deployed a pioneering unit in a bold offensive to enable the resettlement of people who had left the area more than two years ago.
During its advance, this unit encountered several incidents and harassing fire, which it withstood with determination until it reached its destination, according to the same source.
During the phase of control of the said area, the advance elements had enemy contact at dawn on Monday 4 September 2023.
"Unfortunately, fifty-three combatants, including seventeen soldiers and thirty-six DPVs, lost their lives in the fighting. Some thirty wounded were also evacuated and treated," the same source added.
-0- PANA TNDD/JSG/BBA/RA 6Sept2023
