Burkina Faso’s junta vows to hunt down kidnappers

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Burkina Faso’s military government vowed Sunday to pursue the militants who kidnapped 27 women and 39 children earlier this month in the country’s Sahel region.

The commitment came days after the army freed the group of women, who were kidnapped on Jan. 12-13 by suspected terrorists in Soum province near the town of Arbinda.

“The search continues to identify those responsible for the kidnappings in order to bring them before the competent courts,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office.

Welcoming the women’s rescue, the government praised “the commitment and determination” of the Burkinabe defense and security forces for being able to locate the abductees and ensure their safe release.

The abductees included 27 women aged 18 to 56 and 39 children, with four infants among them, according to the government.

They were rescued last Friday in the Center-North region following an operation after eight days of captivity.

After being freed, they were all transported the same day to the capital Ouagadougou for psycho-social care.

The statement called on the Burkinabe people to cooperate with the defense and security forces in the fight against terrorism.

The government “remains firmly committed to sparing no effort to protect populations from human rights violations and abuses.”

The victims were abducted after they went out to search for wild fruits in the bush.

Arbinda is reportedly facing a food shortage due to blockades by armed insurgents.

The West African country has been plagued by insecurity since 2015, with thousands killed and around 2 million people displaced in an insurgency linked to the al-Qaeda and Daesh/ISIS terrorist organizations.