Burkina Faso’s security services, plagued by recurrent jihadist violence, published a list of twenty “Actively Wanted Terrorists”offering bounties for their arrest or “neutralization” ranging from 150,000 to 275,000 euros.
The individuals, whose portraits were broadcast on the local media, are “actively wanted for participation or complicity in the planning or conduct of terrorist acts”. “If you provide information, such as to allow the arrest or neutralization of one of these individuals, you will receive the amount indicated on the photo of the person concerned”specifies a message from the ministry in charge of security, published with the portraits.
Chiefs of katibas
At the top of the list are Sidibé Dramane alias “Hamza” and Diallo Moussa alias “Abou Ganiou”, aged 45 and 40 respectively. The Burkinabé authorities are offering 180 million CFA francs (about 275,000 euros) for the capture of each of them. “Hamza” is close to Malian Amadou Koufa, an important leader of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (Jnim in Arabic), the main coalition affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Sahel.
Also on the list are heads of katibas (combat units of jihadist groups), including Dicko Hamadoun alias “Suu-ka Maldê” and Bolly Oumarou alias “Oumi” whose heads are priced at 175 million CFA francs (some 265,000 euros) each. The persons sought are all Burkinabés, born for the majority in the North region, with the exception of Sita Housseini alias “Lookmann”, a 33-year-old Nigerian.
Burkina Faso has been caught since 2015 in a spiral of jihadist violence that appeared in Mali and Niger a few years earlier and which has spread beyond their borders. The violence over the past seven years has killed more than 10,000 civilians and soldiers, according to NGOs, and more than two million internally displaced persons. According to the government, the army controls 65% of the national territory. The country has been ruled since September 2022 by a military junta headed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power after a coup, the second in eight months.