On Saturday 5 June, the EU strongly condemned the terrorist attacks “directly targeting the civilian population”, plunging Burkina Faso into a state of mourning, killing a total of 160 people in the village of Solhan (in the north of the country) and at least 14 in the province of Oudalan, while reiterating its solidarity with the Burkinabe population.
In a statement issued on behalf of the EU-27, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said “these attacks, among the deadliest in recent years, illustrate the terrible upsurge in violence in Burkina Faso over recent months, targeting civilians, humanitarian workers, security forces and officials”.
“The European Union condemns more than ever these cowardly, barbaric attacks, and calls for every effort to be made to hold the perpetrators to account. It renews its solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso and reaffirms its commitment to fight, alongside Burkina Faso and countries within the region, against insecurity and to strengthen the presence of the State in the most affected regions”.
The EU maintains that, “alongside its partners, notably in the framework of the Sahel Coalition”, it is putting its diplomatic, humanitarian and development action at the forefront of these objectives. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)