KAYA, Burkina Faso, Nov 19 (Reuters) - A convoy of French troops in Burkina Faso was stopped en route to Niger on Friday by a human barricade of protesters opposed to France's involvement in a regional conflict with jihadists. State security forces suffered their heaviest loss in years on Sunday when gunmen killed 49 military police officers and four civilians. Some of the protesters voiced conspiracy theories common in Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries, alleging that the French work with the militants. A source at the French embassy in the capital Ouagadougou and a French army source confirmed the situation in Kaya but did not give further details. But militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have been able to strengthen their foothold and expand into countries such as Burkina Faso and Niger.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 19, 2021 17:11 UTC