Battle of Tin-Akoff

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been embroiled in an insurgency by the Mali-based Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, the Niger-based Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), and the homegrown Burkinabe Ansarul Islam. These insurgent groups began besieging government-controlled towns starting with Arbinda in 2019, and by early 2022 dozens of towns, including provincial capitals, were under siege by JNIM and Ansarul Islam.^[1] Sieges became the modus operandi of these groups beginning in 2022, and jihadists often attacked civilians fleeing the areas while also preventing supplies and food from going in and out.^[1] In 2021, northern Burkinabe towns such as Inata were overrun by jihadists after months-long sieges.^[2]

ISGS has a heavy presence in Oudalan Province, where Tin-Akoff is located, and often ambushes Burkinabe soldiers traveling between bases in the province.^[2] Three days prior to the attack, ISGS attacked Burkinabe soldiers in Tin-Ediar, killing over seventy soldiers with Burkinabe officials claiming 160 jihadists were killed as well.^[3]

The ISGS fighters in the Tin-Akoff attack had entered the town coming from Mali. The attack began on February 20 against a garrison of Burkinabe soldiers in the town.^[4] Heavy clashes broke out between the two groups, with the Burkinabe air force intervening and carrying out several airstrikes against the town.^[4] The Burkinabe soldiers fled, retreating to Markoye.^[5] The Islamic State stated that the battle lasted for only forty minutes.^[3]

Security sources told AFP that between 15 and 19 soldiers were killed in the battle, excluding the several dozen missing.^[6][7] RFI reported 30 wounded.^[4] Libération reported that the death toll could be as high as 100, citing security and humanitarian sources.^[8] The ISGS claimed responsibility for the attack on March 18, and stated that several dozen soldiers were killed or wounded.^[9]