Roadside Bomb kills 15 Soldiers Burkina Faso

At least 15 soldiers have been killed in Bam province in Burkina Faso.

The army says the incident occurred when a transport vehicle drove over a hidden explosive, killing several troops before a second explosion killed those who rushed to their aid.

No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but investigations are currently underway to determine the perpetrators, the army said.

Separate Attack
The attack came less than 24 hours after unidentified fighters raided another northern village, killing five civilians and five volunteer militiamen, the region’s governor said.

A week before that, Islamist militants killed four soldiers and nine more militiamen in another Bam province ambush.

Army officers angry about the escalating attacks overthrew Burkina Faso’s president in January and vowed to improve security, but levels of violence have remained high.

The violence has displaced more than 1.85 million people in Burkina Faso alone and has killed thousands across West Africa’s Sahel region.

REUTERS/CO