Burkina Faso rescues 7 soldiers missing after ambush

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Seven soldiers who went missing following an ambush last week in northeast Burkina Faso have been rescued, authorities said on Tuesday.

At least 12 soldiers were killed, three injured, and seven missing in an ambush targeting a joint military group near the village of Dounkou in the Boucle du Mouhoun region, according to Communications Minister Ousseni Tamboura.

"The soldiers were rescued on Monday. On behalf of the Government, I express condolences to the bereaved families and encourage the forces deployed on the ground to continue vigilance," the governor of the Boucle du Mouhoun region, Edgard Sie Sou, told reporters.

Deploring the terror attacks, the governor appealed to the population to cooperate with the defense and security forces to restore peace.

The West African country has been marred by repeated terror attacks, which have claimed many lives over the past five years and displaced thousands of people, especially in its north and east.

At least 7,000 people have been displaced in conflict-hit regions of Burkina Faso, following recent attacks, the EU said in late June.