36 civilians killed by armed attack in Burkina Faso

SANAA, Jan. 22 (YPA) – Thirty-six civilians were killed in Burkina Faso in a “terrorist attack” on a market in the northern province of Sanmatinga.

The government said in a statement on Tuesday that armed groups stormed the market of the Alamo village on Monday and attacked people there before it was completely burned.

The attack is part of the escalating violence in the West African country that has killed hundreds and forced nearly a million people from their homes and has turned most of the north of the country into an area outside the rule of law over the past two years.

“These repeated attacks on innocent civilians call for genuine cooperation between the defense and security forces,” the government said.

President Rock Marc Caboret declared two days of mourning for the victims of the attack.

It was not clear who was responsible for its implementation.

Atonement groups with links to al Qaeda and ISIS have launched attacks on civilian and military targets in Burkina Faso in recent months, including an attack on a mining convoy in November that killed nearly 40 people