2017 Ouagadougou attack

Nineteen people were killed and 25 others were injured[2] when suspected jihadists opened fire on a Turkish restaurant and hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 13 August 2017.[3] Police cornered the attackers, who took hostages and then were killed in an ensuing shootout.[1]

2017 Ouagadougou attack
Part of the Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso, Islamist insurgency in the Sahel and Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
LocationOuagadougou, Burkina Faso
Date13–14 August 2017
21:00 (GMT)
TargetHotel Bravia and the Istanbul Restaurant
Attack type
Mass shooting, hostage taking
Deaths19 (+3 attackers)
Injured25[1]
No. of participants
4

Background

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Since the 2011 Libyan civil war, instability had spread into central Africa, in particular northern Mali/Azawad where French forces intervened to oust the rebels from Ansar Dine and MOJWA. Meanwhile, the secular MNLA were also in the conflict, though largely separate from both the parties following the Azawadi declaration of independence.[citation needed]

Ouagadougou was also the site of a similar attack in 2016, which took place in the same district as the 2017 attack. Later that year, the region was struck again with the 2016 Grand-Bassam shootings.[4]

Attack

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The attack started at about 21:00 GMT (the same as local time) on 13 August. Witnesses reported that four[1] gunmen arrived to the scene in a pickup truck and opened fire on patrons seated outside the Hotel Bravia and the Aziz Istanbul Restaurant. The attack lasted into the early morning hours of 14 August as the attackers exchanged fire with security forces after barricading themselves in the restaurant.[3] Three attackers were killed by security forces after they were cornered in an upper floor of the restaurant and took around 40 hostages.[1][5] Burkinabe Security Minister Remis Dandjinou said that eventually the hostages had been freed by security forces. He stated that the assailants were reported to be young men, who arrived at the restaurant with AK-47s, riding on motorcycles. Locals say that the restaurant, popular for its European-style bakery, was host to a birthday party the evening of the attack.[6]

Victims

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18 civilians and a gendarme were killed and they were from eight different nationalities.

Deaths by nationality
Country[7] Number
  Burkina Faso 10
  Kuwait 2
  Canada 2
  France 1
  Nigeria 1
  Senegal 1
  Turkey 1
  Lebanon 1
Total 19

Perpetrators

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It is suspected by the government that al-Qaeda's Maghreb affiliate was behind the attack.[8]

Reactions

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Burkinabe president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré condemned the attack, offered condolences to the families of the victims and praised the actions of security forces.[1] French president Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack and described it as a "terrorist attack".[9] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the attack and wished for a speedy recovery for the injured.[10] Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Subah al-Ahmad al-Subah sent a cable of condolences to the Burkinabe president expressing his sadness and praying for the victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery. He instructed a special plane be sent to retrieve the bodies of the Kuwaiti victims to their home country.[11] Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres condemned the attack, and offered his condolences to the victims.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Schemm, Paul. "Gunmen on motorcycles attack Turkish restaurant in Burkina Faso, killing 18". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Attentat à Ouagadougou: Affaires au ralenti aux alentours du café-restaurant Aziz Istanbul" (in French). Africatime. 17 August 2017. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "At least 17 dead after gunmen attack restaurant in Burkina Faso: police". CBS News. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  4. ^ "'Three dead' in Burkina Faso attack". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Burkina Faso Terrorism Kills Several As Militants Attack Turkish Restaurant". International Business Times. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Burkina Faso: At least 18 killed in restaurant terror attack". CNN. 15 August 2017.
  7. ^ "The Latest: 2 Canadians among 18 dead in Burkina Faso attack". ABC News. 14 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Burkina Faso gun attack kills 18 people at cafe". BBC News. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Macron condemns 'terrorist attack' in Ouagadougou". news24.com. News 24. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  10. ^ "PM Trudeau condemns 'cowardly' Burkina Faso attack, offers condolences". ctvnews.ca. CTV News. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Amir saddened over Kuwaitis killed in Burkina". Kuwait Times. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  12. ^ "UN chief condemns Ouagadougou terrorist attack". ENCA. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.

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