Kogsablogo attack

Violence by jihadist groups increased exponentially since the September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état that overthrew putschist Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who came to power in a coup that January.^[1] Much of the violence was caused by the al-Qaeda-aligned Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and its affiliates in Burkina Faso and the Islamic State – Sahel Province, which have besieged towns and launched deadly attacks on Burkinabe soldiers and pro-government militiamen.^[2]

On June 26, a week prior to the Boulsa attack, an ambush on VDP in Noaka killed at least 33 militiamen and 50 jihadists.^[3] The Kogsablogo attack occurred on the same day as the killing of four VDP in Fo, in Houet Province.^[4]

The attack took place at the village of Kogsablogo, near Boulsa, the capital of Namentenga Province.^[4] Little is known about how the attack transpired, although sixteen VDP militiamen were killed in the attack along with two civilians.^[5] The militants stormed the village and burned homes and shops.^[5] A security source within the Burkinabe government told Agence France-Presse that "some" of the attackers had been killed.^[5]

Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin did not claim the attack until July 11, and they said that 15 VDP were killed.^[6]