Armed group attacks villages across northern Burkina Faso

An armed group stormed villages in the country’s north, killing at least 10 civilians and 15 soldiers.

An armed group has killed at least 30 people in a series of attacks in villages across northern Burkina Faso. The unidentified assailants struck villages near the town of Markoye around midday on Wednesday and then attacked security forces responding to the raids later that afternoon, the country’s defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The victims included 11 civilians, 15 soldiers and four members of a government-backed civilian militia. More than 10 attackers were also killed, the statement said, adding the military had regained control of the area.