18 Killed in Attack by Gunmen on Restaurant in Burkina Faso

In an attack by armed assailants on a restaurant in the capital of Burkina Faso, at least 18 people were killed and several others injured. Security forces managed to shoot down both attackers and free those trapped in the building. According to Reuters, the attackers are suspected to be linked to extremist Islamist groups, and officials have described the attack as 'terrorist.' Burkina Faso, like other West African countries, has periodically been targeted by jihadist groups. Most of these attacks have occurred in the northern and remote areas of the country near the border with Mali, where jihadist groups have been active for over a decade. Eyewitnesses report that as gunfire erupted between the attackers and security forces, people fled from the Istanbul restaurant located in the center of the capital, Ouagadougou. According to the French Foreign Minister, a French citizen was among those killed in the attack. The French presidential office announced that Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, discussed the incident and the role of a multinational military force aimed at combating jihadist groups in West African countries with the President of Burkina Faso. This attack is reminiscent of a deadly armed assault on a hotel and restaurant in downtown Ouagadougou in January 2016, which resulted in 30 deaths. The responsibility for that attack was claimed by the al-Qaeda branch in the 'Islamic Maghreb.' The activities of the al-Qaeda branch in the Islamic Maghreb and other related jihadist groups were previously limited to desert areas, but in 2012 they expanded their operational scope southward by exploiting a separatist rebellion in Mali. In 2013, France sent military forces to the country to prevent the capture of Mali's capital by al-Qaeda-linked militants. Nevertheless, jihadist groups have gradually expanded their operational area and have been able to carry out attacks not only in Bamako, the capital of Mali, but also in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. A new jihadist group in Mali, linked to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for an armed attack on a luxury tourist area in Mali, resulting in at least five deaths. Reuters adds that in a separate incident on Monday, gunmen opened fire on United Nations peacekeepers and Malian soldiers in the center of the country, resulting in the death of one Malian soldier and injuries to two Togolese peacekeepers. African countries have formed a new multinational military force to combat jihadist groups in the region known as the Sahel, which includes northern desert areas and the coastal strip of West Africa. However, this force will begin operations in late this year, and the countries forming it are facing budget shortfalls. The French presidential office stated that the President of Burkina Faso also emphasized the importance of accelerating the start of this multinational force's activities. The statement said that 'the Presidents of France and Burkina Faso will have further contacts in the coming days and will discuss advancing this joint plan with leaders of other countries in the region.' Some observers believe that the formation of this new multinational military force, consisting of soldiers from Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, paves the way for the withdrawal of four thousand French military personnel currently stationed in dangerous areas of the region. However, Emmanuel Macron stated that France does not intend to withdraw these forces.