The security situation in Burkina Faso is deteriorating, with increased activity from armed groups. Conflict and climatic shocks, combined with socioeconomic inequalities, have aggravated the access of affected people to food, water, and essential services. An estimated 4.7 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2023.

Insecurity and attacks from non-state armed groups in Burkina Faso have reportedly forced entire villages to flee, with many crossing the border into neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire to seek safety. According to the National Security Council of Côte d’Ivoire, as at 2 Feburary, roughly 8,700 people from Burkina Faso had newly sought refuge in the country. 

Since 17 February 2022, armed groups affiliated with the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin have surrounded Djibo town in Soum province, located at the border with Mali. The groups have been controlling the access routes to the city, preventing the entry and exit of people and goods. 

Possible developments in humanitarian access in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger during 2021.

Irregular and intercommunal conflict and sudden-onset disasters have increased humanitarian needs across the triborder region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Humanitarian operating spaces have also been restricted.

This report is based on a review of publicly available information along with an interview of a key informant from a humanitarian organisation in Burkina Faso. There are significant information gaps concerning the exposure of children to armed group recruitment. 

This report highlights the potential impact of COVID-19 containment measures in three countries in the Sahel region: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The premise of this regional analysis is that, given these key factors, the three countries are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 containment measures.

The security situation in Burkina Faso has deteriorated during 2019, and is expected to further worsen over the next 6 months. Violence has spread from the northern regions to the east of the country. While most of the attacks are attributed to Islamist groups such as ISGS, Ansarul Islam, and JNIM, self-defence militias have started to proliferate. Growing insecurity has led to significant forced displacement, both inside Burkina Faso (486,000 IDPs) and to neighbouring countries (16,000 refugees). Access to health services and education has deteriorated, and affected populations are in urgent need of protection, food and livelihoods assistance.

At least 49 people have been killed following an attack on 1 January 2019 in Yirgou and a string of retaliations by the armed group Ansaroul Islam and Koglweogo auto-defence groups in surrounding villages in the Centre-Nord and Sahel regions. The events led to the displacement of at least 6,100 people but this figure is likely to reach more than 12,300 as registrations are still ongoing. Displaced populations are in need of food and shelter assistance.

These scenarios consider how migration dynamics within and via West and North Africa (including across the Mediterranean Sea) might evolve in the first half of 2019 and the potential humanitarian consequences. The aim is to support strategic planning, create awareness and promote preparedness activities for policymakers and other actors working on migration.

Northern Burkina Faso has seen a rapid deterioration of the security situation since January 2017. Various attacks have been carried out in the area ranging from targeted killings, assassination attempts, village and school incursions to complex attacks against army or police position. The increase in threats and attacks has caused fear across the region and led to the closure of over 600 schools in Oudalan and Soum provinces.

24,354 people have been affected by heavy winds and floods in seven regions of Burkina Faso. The most affected areas were Bissighin and Kilwin neighbourhoods in the capital Ouagadougou (Centre region), and Dallo department (Centre Ouest region). Rains are expected to continue until the end of August, and gaps have been identified in the response for food security, health, rehabilitation and protection.