Three Ghanaian men have revealed their involvement in the ongoing conflict between Islamist insurgents and Burkina Faso’s military. Speaking anonymously to the BBC, they described brutal battles, with some fights leaving up to 100 dead.
Since 2018, they have crossed the Ghana-Burkina Faso border undetected to fight. While they deny being jihadist recruits, they claim to be defending civilian communities linked to their families. One man said his brother’s entire household of 29 people was killed by the Burkinabe military, motivating him to join the fight.
However, one of the fighters admitted to attacking civilians, justifying it by saying some locals supported the military. Another acknowledged that the insurgency has lost its original purpose and now revolves around stealing livestock for profit.
Reports suggest that Ghanaian fighters are being recruited at northern cattle markets. Some refugees fleeing Burkina Faso accuse both jihadists and the military of indiscriminate killings. Ghana’s security forces remain on high alert, with concerns that the conflict could spill over into the country.
