The Islamic State group JNIM is attempting to impose a blockade on the Fada N'Gourma livestock market in Burkina Faso. The jihadist group, linked to al-Qaeda, announced in an audio message released on Saturday, January 24, its intention to prevent the market from operating: it is forbidden to supply or come to the market. The Fada N'Gourma market, in the east of the country, is the largest in Burkina Faso and one of the main ones in the entire sub-region.

Starting Sunday, the day after the threats issued by JNIM, the Fada N'Gourma market was disrupted. Livestock farmers, traders, and residents contacted by RFI reported no jihadist attacks, but explained that no new animals had arrived from outside the region to supply the market, and that no livestock had left the city either. The jihadists' objective has been achieved: " Here, everyone is afraid ," testified a regular at the Fada market, who no longer dares to set foot there.

JNIM accuses Burkinabe soldiers based in Fada N'Gourma and their auxiliaries, the Volunteers for the Homeland (VDP), drawn from local populations, of violence against the inhabitants: summary executions, arbitrary arrests, and cattle theft.

The army conducts regular operations in the area, where Jnim is itself very active: attacks against military targets, against the university , or even the abduction of soldiers deployed in Fada N'Gourma .

Civilian populations are caught in a vice: they suffer the jihadist threat but are often accused of complicity by the army. " The inhabitants of Fada depend on the livestock market ," worries one resident, who believes that without this economic lifeline to meet their needs, " many people won't be able to stay here ." The Fada'Ngourma livestock market also supplies numerous other markets in Burkina Faso and neighboring countries.