Two of the people killed by jihadis in Ougadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, on Friday were a photographer and driver for Amnesty International, the group has said.
Advertisement
Alaoui was in Burkina Faso for a photography assignment on women’s rights. The Liberian President then called for global and regional cooperation and action in bringing an end to such barbarity against humanity.
“These actions also strengthen our resolve to fight these barbarians with all our strength, alongside our allies”, Couillard said, adding the attacks were a stark reminder that violence that seemed so distant in the past can touch people at home.
“The fact of living in a society that is open, democratic, has more solidarity, does not isolate us, does not protect us from terrorism”, Couillard said Monday.
According to provisional figures from the Burkinabe government, among the dead were eight Burkinabes, four Canadians, three Ukrainians, two Portuguese, two French, two Swiss and one Dutch citizen.
Following a car-bomb explosion claimed by the Islamist group Boko Haram at the United Nations office in Abuja in 2011, in which more than 20 people were killed, major hotels such as the Sheraton and Hilton increased security measures including banning marked taxis from entering their parking lots. Seven bodies are yet to be identified, and the list is subject to change.
“Three were killed and three are still being sought”, he said.
The attack began around 7:45 pm (1945 GMT) on Friday when an unknown number of attackers stormed the 147-room Splendid Hotel in the heart of Ouagadougou.
Mr Seydou is one of the administrators of the Facebook page “Djibo supports Dr Ken Elliott” created after the couple were taken by al-Qaeda linked extremists on Saturday morning.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard says nothing can explain attacks on people who work to build a better world. Burkina Faso’s authorities are now concerned that its long desert border with Mali could become a transit point for militants. The couple, reported to be in their 80s, were kidnapped in the northern town of Djibo where they had run a medical center for 40 years.
Advertisement
“We want to reassure the people that live on our soil that foreigners can continue to come to our country, and to invest in our country, because we are ahead on this and we continue to march forward”, Compaore said.
