Almost 200 people died in a terrorist attack that took place in the city of Barsalogo in Burkina Faso. Among the victims are civilians and soldiers, security sources said.

Armed terrorist groups yesterday launched an attack in Barsalogo, Burkina Faso, 45 kilometers north of the town of Kaya, while the population was helping security forces dig trenches to protect army security posts.

At that moment, the attackers opened fire on them and killed a large number of people, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported today.

The number of victims of the attack is between 100 and 200 people, several security sources said, and several soldiers are missing, while a large number of people are injured.

At least 140 people have been evacuated to health centers in the area. The attackers also took weapons, as well as a military ambulance.

The army ordered the local population to dig trenches to slow down the movement of terrorist groups, and the attack took place while these works were being carried out, a local source said.

According to the same source, the residents initially refused to participate in the work, fearing reprisals from armed groups in that province, where there are many terrorists and their accomplices.

Burkina Faso and neighboring Mali and Niger are battling a jihadist insurgency across Africa's Sahel region that began in Mali 12 years ago, Reuters reports.

The three West African countries formed a security pact last year, promising to help each other in the event of rebellion or external aggression.

A military junta has been in power in Burkina Faso since 2022 after ousting President Rocco Kabore, suspending the Constitution, dissolving the Government and National Assembly and closing the borders.