https://www.nytimes.com/2018/0...-embassy-attack.html


At Least 13 Dead in Attacks in Burkina Faso, Growing Target of Al Qaeda


By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA and JAIME YAYA BARRYMARCH 2, 2018



Numerous people were killed in simultaneous attacks on Friday on the military headquarters of Burkina Faso and the French Embassy in the nation’s capital, the government said.

Even after several hours, a full picture of the situation was still coming into view, but the government reported that at least seven members of the security forces, as well as six assailants, died in the attacks.

There were grim signs that the toll might be far higher: Agence France-Presse, citing security sources in France and West Africa, estimated that the death toll was at least 28.

Government officials did not immediately assign blame for the gunfire and explosions that erupted in the downtown area of Ouagadougo, the capital, but speculation immediately centered on radical jihadist groups that have attacked the city in the past.

The government’s information minister, Remis Fulgance Dandjinou, told the state broadcaster RTB that four attackers were killed at the French Embassy and two at the military headquarters. RTB showed video of soldiers closing around one of the buildings involved, with gunshots echoing, a helicopter swooping low overhead and a car ablaze nearby.


In 2016 and again last year, jihadists attacked civilian sites that were popular with Westerners — cafes and a hotel — killing a total of 49 people.


Paul Kaolaga, a terrorism analyst with the Strategic Network on Security in the Sahel, said the military, supported by French special forces, had brought both attack scenes under control.

In recent years, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has pushed south from its base in Algeria, into Mali, and then to Burkina Faso. In aiding the fight against terrorist groups, Mr. Kaolaga said, Burkina Faso has become one of their targets.

Aurélia Laget, a spokeswoman for the French Institute in Ouagadougou, which is near the embassy, said that workers there had taken shelter and that sounds of fighting had gone on for more than an hour. “We heard gunfire for sure, and explosions, I think,” she said.

Some witnesses said the gunmen at the embassy set fire to their vehicle when they arrived, which could have caused an explosion.

Aurelien Breeden contributed reporting.

Surprised the French didn’t surrender when the shooting started. That’s their usual MO

Bud,
The French are tougher than you think. At least the ones that go to Africa.
I was in CAR when a mess started there and an transport offloaded 200 or so of there special forces types and the trouble stopped immediately.

Not sure about the WWI and WWII stuff, but they will fight.

Ross: Aren’t the French special forces troops called the “Green Bidets “ ??

Ross: You forgot Dien Ben Phu: 11,000 + French surrendered in one battle.

No experience with regular French Military but I spent some deployment time with French Foreign Legion troops back in the day and they were not ones you wanted to mess with...

Well crap, I'm working on a development project in Ghana, right next door. I may be going there soon.