Terrorist attack in Burkina Faso - contact us if you are concerned

14 August 2017 - RPS Partnership

Contact RPS Partnership on [email protected] for advice and training if you are planning to travel to Burkina Faso in the next few days or weeks. If you are in Burkina Faso and need advice, then call our number + 44 (0) 1225 290210.

Update from the capital Ouagadougou

A gang of suspected Islamist terrorists killed at least 17 people and injured eight during a sudden attack on a restaurant in the capital Ouagadougou. The attack took place late at night  at around 9.30pm last night (Sunday 13 August) at the Aziz Istanbul restaurant, prompting police and paramilitary forces to surround it. There were reports of heavy gunfire, and the death toll is still provisional and may increase. It is unclear if the terrorists have escaped or are still engaged in fighting with the security forces. 

Burkina Faso has been a target of Islamist terrorism which has affected most of Africa’s Sahel region in recent years. Most incidents have been on the northern border with Mali where Islamist groups have been operating for a decade.

Yet, there is also an elevated threat of terrorism in the capital. In January 2016, this was highlighted when gunmen linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb raided a restaurant and hotel, killing 30 people. Meanwhile, an international African military force aimed at tackling the rise in Islamist terrorism in the Sahel is not yet operational and will not be deployed until later in 2017 due to budgetary issues.

If you are planning to travel overseas to Burkina Faso or anywhere else in West Africa as well as any other challenging environments, RPS Partnership offers Travel Security Training Courses and Hostile Environment Training Course which address the issues associated with ensuring your own safety whilst travelling for work or leisure. We offer bespoke travel security awareness workshops as well as many types of First-Aid courses.

We have male and female consultants who are all qualified trainers with vast experience gained over the years; we can tailor training to your specific area of travel.
Contact us on [email protected] for more information.

Source: PGI Portal, Al Jazeera.com