[1][2] Since 2015, northern Burkina Faso has been embroiled in a jihadist insurgency that has spread from the neighboring country of Mali.

According to estimates from NGOs, the campaign by these jihadists has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 civilians, soldiers, and police, as well as the displacement of at least 2,000,000 people.

[7] The attacks in Kourakou and Tondobi were reprisal killings that were retaliation for villagers in the towns lynching two jihadists who had been stealing cattle.

[7] A resident of Kourakou speaking to AFP stated that gunfire rang "all night long", and that villagers were unable to safely view the ensuing carnage until the following morning.

[10] Rodolphe Sorgho, lieutenant-governor of the Sahel region, claimed that the perpetrators were "put out of action" following the "despicable terrorist attack.