2023 Zorkoum attack

Much of northern Burkina Faso has been the frontline of an insurgency waged by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara since 2015, with these groups intensifying their attacks on civilians seen as sympathetic to the government since 2019.^[1] These jihadist groups had been known to invade towns near Kaya, including Zorkoum, multiple times over the past few years demanding zakat.^[2]

The attack took place at a barracks for the VDP, a pro-government civilian militia group.^[3] The unit had been responsible for providing security to workers fixing water supplies for the city of Kaya.^[4] Four Burkinabe soldiers and ten VDP were killed in the attack, according to France 24 citing local sources.^[4][3] Around twenty jihadists were reported killed by Burkinabe authorities as well.^[5]

JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack on April 19, along with a second attack in Zorkoum on April 10 that killed several soldiers and militants while the former were traveling to Bittou.^[3]