Overview

• JNIM, an al-Qaeda-linked group, launched a major offensive starting on May 11, seizing military camps in Djibo and Diapaga and looting their arsenals.
• The group claims to have killed up to 200 soldiers, significantly increasing its earlier report of 60 deaths, though these figures remain unverified.
• Satellite imagery confirms significant damage to the Djibo base, nearby prison, hospital, and market, with local sources reporting around 20 civilian deaths and destroyed infrastructure.
• JNIM has blocked road access to Djibo and expanded attacks into north-central, east-central, and southern regions of Burkina Faso.
• The military junta, under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has signed a media pact to control public communication and is reportedly seeking external military support to counter the insurgency.