Hundreds attend funeral of Burkina Faso troopers killed in pre-coup ambush By Reuters

By Thiam Ndiaga and Anne Mimault

OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Hundreds of mourners gathered in Burkina Faso’s capital on Saturday for the funeral of 27 troopers killed in an ambush final month that triggered the nation’s second coup this yr led by a navy unit fed up with rampant insecurity.

The coffins had been wrapped within the Burkina Faso flag and sided by portraits of the troopers who had been killed on Sept. 26 whereas escorting a convoy that was delivering provides to a northern city besieged by Islamist insurgents.

“Persons are saddened and sickened by the scenario we’re experiencing. It actually hurts the guts to see younger individuals of their prime leaving,” mentioned Abdoul Fatao Bangue, a buddy of one of many troopers.

Tributes for fallen troopers have turn into a daily incidence within the impoverished West African nation, the place teams linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have killed hundreds of individuals in raids on rural communities since 2015.

In latest months, insurgents have blockaded components of the arid north, inflicting acute meals shortages for hundreds.

On Sept. 30, 4 days after the assault, troopers led by Captain Ibrahim Traore overthrew President Paul-Henri Damiba and promised higher safety. Damiba had staged his personal coup in January promising the identical, just for the assaults to proceed.

Traore has a large job forward, not least securing Djibo, the city that the convoy was making an attempt to succeed in on Sept. 26. It has turn into a obtrusive instance of the federal government’s lack of management within the north – and of the worth paid by civilians caught within the center.

UNDER SIEGE

Militants have for years managed to isolate Djibo from the capital 200 kilometres (120 miles) away, through the use of explosive gadgets, ambushes and unlawful checkpoints.

This yr, issues have gotten a lot worse, residents and humanitarian employees informed Reuters. The insurgents have reduce off meals and medical provides, together with remedy for malnourished youngsters. Market cabinets are empty; even salt is tough to seek out.

Solely humanitarian flights are capable of get in, however even they’re struggling to satisfy residents’ wants. Military convoys bringing provides face the specter of assaults.

“We lack meals and we won’t even purchase any available in the market,” mentioned one resident, talking on situation of anonymity. “With out options, we eat leaves and meat.”

The militants do not enable freedom of motion. Anybody leaving dangers being killed and nobody can entry their farms or cattle, the residents mentioned.

“I’ve been significantly shocked by how briskly the scenario deteriorated all through these previous months,” mentioned Alfarock Ag-Almoustakine, a mission coordinator in Djibo for Docs With out Borders.

“We actually hope that each one events can discover a answer to provide town as shortly as attainable to keep away from a humanitarian disaster.”

(Writing and extra reporting by Edward McAllister; Enhancing by Ros Russell)