Soldiers from Burkina Faso patrol on the road of Gorgadji in the Sahel area, Burkina Faso March 3, 2019. REUTERS/Luc Gnago/File Photo/File PhotoOUAGADOUGOU, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Authorities in Burkina Faso have declared a two-day period of mourning after suspected militants killed at least 41 members of a government-backed civilian militia in the country's desert north this week. Militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have inflicted heavy casualties on the region's armies, killing soldiers in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali almost every week in scattered attacks. The Burkinabe army said about 100 militants were killed earlier this month in a joint offensive involving hundreds of troops from Burkina Faso and Niger, who also seized guns, improvised explosive devices and hundreds of motorcycles. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Thiam Ndiaga; Writing by Cooper Inveen; Editing by Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 26, 2021 11:49 UTC