Burkina Faso insurgency: Human Rights Watch says jihadists have stepped up attacks

Brutal atrocities, like slitting civilians' throats, have been reported, Human Rights Watch says.

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It quoted data showing that more than 6,000 deaths, including around 1,000 civilians killed by Islamists insurgents, have been recorded in the West African state in the first eight months of the year.

Burkina Faso has been battling jihadist groups, including those linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), since 2016.

When Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a coup two years ago, he pledged to improve the dire security situation within "two to three months". However, the violence has only escalated.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77x45y130lo

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