Arbinda attack

Arbinda attack
Part of the Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso, Islamist insurgency in the Sahel and Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
Date 24 December 2019 Location Arbinda, Soum Province, Burkina Faso Result Burkinese victory
Belligerents
Burkina Faso	Islamic State of the Great Sahara
Strength
Unknown	200 - 300
Casualties and losses
7 killed 17 wounded	30 - 80 killed
35 civilians killed

On 24 December 2019, a large group of militants on motorcycles attacked civilians and a military base in Arbinda, Soum Province, Burkina Faso. The attack and subsequent battle lasted several hours, resulting in the deaths of 35 civilians, 7 soldiers and 80 attackers. The attack was one of Burkina Faso's deadliest. A 48-hour state of mourning was declared after the attack.

Attack

The militants first attacked a military outpost in northern Soum Province near Arbinda, killing 7 soldiers. The attack was eventually repelled by security forces. Around 80 attackers were killed during the clashes.

At the same time, dozens of attackers on motorcycles stormed into Arbinda, killing 35 civilians. The attackers supposedly targeted women, as 31 of the dead civilians were female. The battle and attacks lasted several hours, until the militants were pushed back by the Burkina Faso Army with the help of its air force.