The 3 Corners - Terrorism In The Tri-Corner

Friday, 29 March 2024

By: TB Obwoge

Burkina Faso was once called the world's most ignored crisis, The Guardian was one of the leading news outlets to ring the alarm. However outside of Burkina Faso, even in the country to the southern border, hateful citizens were villainzing the people of Burkina Faso.

I've used the flag of Burkina Faso on several social media platforms, for some reasons Ghanaians insutled me, claiming that Burkinabè were all killing each other. That actually isn't the case, people who despise their African neighbors wouldn't know what exactly is taking place in these countries.

Which I've also written about on another platform,

Most of the world outside of the multiple countries within the Sahel Region more than likely have no idea what the Sahel Region actually is or where it's located. The Sahel separates northern Africa from western area of Africa. There are several countries within the Sahel Region as well. There are Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Sudan within the Sahel.

The title of the Guardian article is, ‘Burkina Faso The World’s Most Neglected Crisis’. As billions of dollars flow into the Ukraine, along with equipment that is needed in the West African nation of Burkina Faso.

People have gone onto accuse the country of using Wagner’s militia group, even though the Capt. Ibrahim Traoré has said consistently that he’s not using them.

He’s opened up their military for citizens to join, he’s had over 90 thousand sign up to fight. These people include older men and woman from various age groups.

Burkina Faso is the world’s ‘most neglected crisis’ as focus remains on Ukraine

The displacement of 2 million people in Burkina Faso has been named the world’s most neglected crisis, while the world’s attention and aid has been focused on Ukraine, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Burkina Faso has endured five years of conflict with militias — who have attacked water sources and forced school closures — now controlling up to 40% of the country’s territory.

About 800,000 people in these areas have no access to services, according to the report, and a quarter of the population relies on humanitarian aid. The NRC said a siege on the city of Djibo means many have resorted to eating wild leaves to survive.

Ukraine received five times more media coverage and four times more funding than the world’s 10 most crucial displacement crises, according to the NRC’s annual report on situations that need more attention from diplomats and the media.

“We must do more to end the suffering in Burkina Faso before despair becomes entrenched and it is added to the growing list of protracted crises. That this crisis is already so deeply neglected shows a failure of the international system to react to newly emerging crises, as it also fails those lost in the shadows for decades,” said Jan Egeland, NRC’s secretary general.

Last year’s humanitarian response was only 42% funded and this year’s plan, launched in April, has also received only 18% of the $882m (£659m) requested.

Source: The Guardian News

In several more recent articles writers outlined the worsening conditions of life in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. These 3 countries have some of the largest population of children, with all 3 almost half of their population are children under the age of 18-years old.

Recent reports show just how bad the 3 corners situation are currently, this is where all three countries borders meet. There have been several posts, videos and guesses about what exactly draws the terrorists to this area of all 3 countries.

Burkina Faso Accounted for One Quarter of World’s Terrorism Deaths in 2023

One quarter of all deaths related to terrorism globally in 2023 occurred in Burkina Faso making it the most severely impacted country in the world. Nearly 2,000 people were killed in 258 terror incidents, a rise of 68 percent from the previous year, according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

“Deaths from terrorism have increased successively each year since 2014,” the authors of the GTI wrote. “Given the successive years of escalating violence in Burkina Faso and the uncertain political situation the country is likely to experience further increases in terrorism.”

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which is affiliated with al-Qaida, was the main perpetrator of attacks in the country, although the Islamic State group (IS) began ramping up operations there in late 2022. The world’s epicenter of terrorism also shifted from the Middle East and North Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounted for nearly half of all terrorism-related deaths last year.

The biggest increase in terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa was in the Sahel, particularly in the tri-border areas shared by the junta-led countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Nigeria and Somalia also recorded high levels of terrorist violence.

In Somalia, al-Shabaab is believed to protect pirates in exchange for 30% of all ransom proceeds and a cut of any loot. The number of piracy incidents in the country is increasing after a six-year lull

Source: ADF Magazine

Armed groups sustain terror campaign throughout Burkina Faso, escalating insecurity

Speaking from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital city, High Commissioner Volker Türk emphasized his office’s serious engagement in addressing the country’s complex human rights issues following the January 2022 uprisings. Türk conveyed solidarity with the Burkinabe people and highlighted the importance of collaborating with local authorities, civil society actors, human rights defenders, UN partners, and others to tackle these problems.

In his remarks, Türk underscored the crucial role of dialogue and cooperation in dealing with human rights concerns. He stressed the need for sustained efforts to engage diverse stakeholders and work towards solutions that uphold human rights standards. Türk’s comments reflected a commitment to fostering inclusive approaches that prioritize the voices and experiences of affected communities in Burkina Faso.

Türk painted a stark picture of widespread hardship, describing the dire humanitarian situation. With 2.3 million people insecure, over two million displaced, and 800,000 children out of school in a population of 20 million, Türk emphasized the urgent need for international attention and resources to address the crisis. His affirmation of the stark data highlights the need for prompt and comprehensive responses to alleviate people’s suffering.

The OHCHR reported 1,335 human rights and humanitarian law violations last year affecting at least 3,800 civilians, attributed mostly to armed groups. Türk pushed for ensuring civilian protection and accountability for perpetrators, while also recognizing challenges faced by security forces and the need for their actions to comply with international law. His emphasis on responsibility reflects a commitment to justice and the rule of law in addressing human rights violations.

Source RightsWorkers on Medium