An Underreported Massacre in West Africa
On August 24, 2024, the town of Barsalogho in Sanmatenga Province, Burkina Faso, witnessed what is believed to be the worst terror attack in the country’s recent history. Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants from Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the massacre, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 200 people and a number of soldiers.
The attack started around 9:00 morning local time according to local sources when civilians who were reportedly forced/volunteered to dig trenches for the military along with a number of soldiers overseeing the digging operation, were caught off guard by JNIM militants who opened fire at them on arrival, leading to the mass casualties. This mass killing is part of an ongoing wave of violence by militant groups fighting Burkina Faso government, a West African nation that has lost control of 50 percent of its territory due to such insurgencies, particularly in its northern and central regions.
Regardless of whether the villagers volunteered or were forced to dig the trenches, the video obtained for this report, along with open-source data, sheds light on the events leading up to the incident. The footage, taken by militants as they shout “Allahu Akbar” while firing at the lifeless bodies in and around the trenches, has been crucial in verifying the location, militants, analyzing the weapons used, and understanding the early developments of the attack.
Where did it happen?
According to several media outlets, the attack took place north of Barsalogho in north of Burkina Faso where militants are advancing. Satellite imagery reveals that trenches stretching up to 15 kilometers began to appear north of Barsalogho from February to March 2024 with new trenches in the followng weeks and months intended as a defensive line against JNIM and other groups.
The footage, showing greenery surrounding the trenches, suggests that the attack likely occurred in the northeastern part of Barsalogho, where the landscape matches the trees in the video. The plausible coordinates of the site are 13.424122691876066, -1.0222146050090815
The video shows over hundreds of victims, mostly young people dressed in civilian clothes and their slippers and shovels scattered around the site, indicating that the civilians had been digging trenches before they were killed. The trenches appear to be newly dug and relatively shallow.
Weapons used by JNIM
The weapons used by militants appear to be AKS74 rifles and Bulgarian MG-1M machine guns. Similar weapons have been previously confiscated from JNIM by the Burkinabe government that further corroborates the involvement of JNIM in the massacre.
Government’s role in death of civilians’ lives
Despite JNIM’s brutal attack, it appears the Burkinabe army was aware of the increasing threat, as indicated by the construction of extensive trenches visible in satellite imagery. The relocation of military outposts from outside of town toward the center suggests that the government may have anticipated the level of danger, yet the defensive measures were insufficient to prevent this tragic loss of civilians' life.
Moreover, videos captured before the massacre show civilians, including very young individuals, digging trenches with no military personnel in sight. This absence of protection further undermines the army’s position, that civilians were left vulnerable and directly involved in defense efforts without adequate protection.
