The jihadist insurgency led by Ansar ul Islam and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin moved to the Est Region of Burkina Faso in July 2018.[1] While the Burkinabe military has a presence in major cities like Fada N'gourma and Natiaboani, the modus operandi of JNIM in Est Region is attacks on foreign-owned mines and attacks on Burkinabe military convoys on remote roads.[1] Many of these convoys are aided by Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), civilian militias trained by the government to fight the jihadists.[2] Kikideni had seen prior jihadist activity, with a school burned down in the town in February 2022.[3]
On September 26, 2022, a convoy of Burkinabe soldiers, VDP, and civilians heading to the besieged city of Djibo was ambushed by JNIM, killing thirty-seven people. The Gaskinde attack was preceded by a bus bombing in Silgadji on September 5, where thirty-five soldiers and VDP were killed. Just prior to the attack in Kikideni, an ambush by JNIM against a Burkinabe military base in Djibo killed ten Burkinabe soldiers and injured fifty others.[2]
Ambush
At the time of the attack, a convoy of Burkinabe soldiers from a detachment based in Natiaboani and VDP were returning to Natiaboani from a supply mission in Fada N'gourma.[2] JNIM militants, hiding out near the village of Kikideni, ambushed the convoy, killing thirteen soldiers and two VDP.[2][4][5] Three soldiers and one VDP were wounded, and eleven others went missing.[4][2] The Burkinabe military deployed reinforcements the area.[6]
Aftermath
The Burkinabe government led by Ibrahim Traoré expressed condolences to the families of the soldiers for the attack.[6] JNIM conducted more attacks against Burkinabe troops in Est region in late November.[7]