Burkina Faso extends the state of emergency for six months in 22 provinces due to jihadist violence

May 14. (EUROPE PRESS) –

Burkina Faso’s National Transitional Assembly has extended the state of emergency for jihadist violence in force since March in 22 provinces of eight of the country’s thirteen regions by six months.

The measure, approved unanimously on Friday, extends the exceptional situation in these areas until October 29 to “strengthen and consolidate the fight against insecurity and provide the Security and Defense Forces with more opportunities to carry out their operations,” according to the statement collected by the portal Le Faso.

The state of emergency grants exceptional powers to the authorities to take security measures that may restrict public liberties. These include restrictions on freedom of movement, freedom of opinion and expression, as well as freedom of assembly and association.

This extension has occurred amid new massacres within the country, such as the one that occurred on May 11 in Mouhoun, in which at least 33 civilians were massacred.

Burkina Faso has seen a sharp increase in jihadist attacks in recent years, the work of both al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates in the region. Abuses by the security forces against the population have helped these groups in their recruitment efforts.

The Burkinabe authorities, now led by the military coup leader Ibrahim Traoré, decreed a general mobilization in April to face the increase in jihadist attacks in the country, the work of both the Al Qaeda affiliate and the Islamic State.