Tin-Ediar attack

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-Ediar is located, and often ambushes Burkinabe soldiers traveling between bases in the province.^[2]

At the time of the attack, a convoy of Burkinabe soldiers was traveling between Déou and Oursi when they were ambushed by ISGS militants in Tin-Ediar.^[3][4] The soldiers in the convoy had been returning to their original base in Dori after having spent six months on the frontline.^[5] Immediately after the ambush, intense fighting began between the Burkinabe soldiers and the jihadists.^[3]

Journalist and Sahel expert Wassim Nasr attributed the attack to the Islamic State - Sahil Province, although Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is the most established jihadist group in the area.^[6][7] The Islamic State, in their statement on February 24 claiming responsibility for the attack, stated that they ambushed the soldiers with machine guns and other weapons.^[8]

The Burkinabe army announced on February 20 that at least 51 soldiers were killed in the attack.^[9][5] RFI stated that the death toll was likely higher as several dozen soldiers were stil missing.^[4] Libération stated that local security sources assessed the death toll at seventy soldiers.^[10] Burkinabe officials stated that a "response" with "aerial actions" helped kill or injure 160 jihadists from ISGS.^[5] ISGS denied these figures in a broadcast on March 16.^[11] The Africa Center for Strategic Studies stated that about 60 jihadists were killed in the counteroffensive.^[12]

The ISGS stated that over seventy soldiers were killed in the ambush, and that five were captured and dozens more were injured.^[8] In photos broadcast by ISGS, the bodies of at least 54 soldiers are visible.^[13] The attack was the deadliest day for the Burkinabe army since the 2021 Inata attack.^[5]