For almost a month, the capital of the province of Soum, in the north of Burkina Faso, has been besieged by armed men. Terrorists, who control the roads, prevent people and goods from entering or leaving the city.
In this rural town of nearly 23,000 inhabitants, the humanitarian situation has become catastrophic. ” We are in a dire situation “, laments Badini Idrissa, spokesperson for civil society organizations in Djibo. ” Today, a can of water costs 75 CFA francs against five or ten before. »
the blockade imposed by armed men asphyxiates the community. The goods no longer pass. Most water boreholes have been sabotaged. And the herds can no longer go out to graze without risking raids.
Nothing goes in and nothing leaves the city (…) The installations are sabotaged
Badini Idrissa, spokesperson for civil society organizations in Djibo
According to several residents, the armed men are pushing them to leave the city. ” A strategy of intimidation », Analyzes a local source, who believes that the terrorists are taking the population of Djibo hostage to negotiate from a position of strength with the local authorities. ” It would be for them to obtain in particular to circulate more freely in the region “Adds a security analyst.
It’s not not the first time that Djibo has suffered a blockade. Already in 2020, the armed men had put her under pressure by the same means. At the end of this showdown, civilians had observed men known to be close to terrorist groups, circulating in the city, unarmed.