What Made Burkina Faso the Target of an Al-Qaeda Attack?

If you want to know why al-Qaeda is attacking Ouagadougou, you’re going to have to learn to pronounce it first.

Attackers struck an upscale hotel, popular with foreigners, guessing the recent political turmoil in West Africa. (Photo: AP)

Saturday morning’s news notifications informed us about an al-Qaeda attack on an unpronounceable city (Ouagadougou) in a country that has for long been overlooked and is suddenly back in focus following a deadly terrorist attack.

Here’s what we need to know about the landlocked African nation of Burkina Faso, to help us understand why today’s attack took place.

• After gaining Independence from French occupation in August 1960, the country that was known as Republic of Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso.
  

• While French is the official language, the most commonly spoken dialect is Mòoré.
  
• It’s capital Ouagadougou is written as “Wogodogo” in the Mòoré dialect and it literally means “You are welcome here at home with us”.
  

Today’s Attack

On Saturday morning, heavily armed gunmen linked to al-Qaeda laid siege to a hotel in the heart of the city. At least 20 people have been killed, 33 wounded in the attack on the Hotel Splendid. A four-star property, the hotel is frequented by foreigners, especially UN workers.

Hotel Splendid is a 4-star property frequented by foreigners and UN officials. (Photo Courtesy: Hotels.com)

Why Ouagadougou?

Primarily because of its geographical location and the fact that it is still trying to emerge from the deep political crisis it was plunged in 2014 after longtime president Blaise Compaore was forced to step down. This followed a people’s uprising, which many suspected was partially backed by the military.

But what is certain is that people were unhappy with economic inequality, corruption and a system designed to keep Compaore in power.

Between November 2014 and 2015, successive military uprisings prevented the establishment of a democratically elected government.

In November 2015, Roch Marc Christian Kabore won the election with 53 percent votes negating the need for a second round. But, terror attacks like the one we witnessed today are aimed at derailing any hope of political stability.

Strategic Partner in Fight Against al-Qaeda

Burkina Faso is a crucial partner in ensuring stability in the South Saharan region. The West, particularly France, considers Burkina Faso a key ally in the fight against al-Qaeda. After the French-led military intervention in Mali, with which it shares a border, Burkina Faso increased its security at diplomatic facilities and public events. Its geographical location allows for extremists to seek cover or set base in the refugee camps in the north.

Rescued woman sits in a vehicle with a bullet hole in the windshield near Splendid hotel. (Photo: AP)

Increased cooperation with Western forces makes it a prime target for the al-Qaeda backed Al-Murabitoun group which is headed by Mokhtar Belmokhtar.