At least 43 people killed in 2 terror attacks in Burkina Faso

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - At least 43 people were killed Sunday and Monday in two terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso, according to security officials.

Thirteen people, including 10 gendarmes, two army auxiliaries and a civilian, were killed Monday in a battle with terrorists in Falagountou in the north, the army said late Monday.

The terrorists wanted to attack civilians in the afternoon and the army response left five gendarmes wounded and 12 missing, it said.

The bodies of 15 terrorists were recovered after search operations following the attack.

The report came one day after a terror attack Sunday killed 15 in the Centre-East and Cascades regions.

A statement from Col. Jean Charles Yenapono Some, the governor of the Cascades region, said the bodies "with bullet holes" were found Monday at noon in the village of Linguekoro.

He said the victims were part of a group of 24 people -- eight women and 16 men -- who were passengers in two minibusses intercepted and abducted Sunday.

All the women and one man were released and told to walk to their destination while the minibusses were set on fire.

Burkina Faso has suffered insecurity due to terror attacks since 2015. Thousands of schools have been closed, thousands killed and millions have fled the violence.

The country is in transition after two coups, caused by the pretext of growing and uncontrolled insecurity.