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Spotlight on Africa

Burkina attacks show west Africa new arena for Islamist violence

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Burkina Faso has paid tribute to the victims of a recent terror attack on the capital that killed more than 30 people and injured many more. The attack on the luxury Splendid Hotel and Cappucino café on Friday 15th of January, was claimed by Al-Mourabitoun, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb based in the Sahel region of northern Mali. It is run by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Islamic extremist commander in Africa. Until recently, Burkina Faso had been spared the Islamist violence afflicting nearby countries like Mali and Niger. RFI's Christina Okello explores the reasons behind the attack and investigates more broadly why Africa is becoming the 'new frontier' in islamist militancy.

The Splendid Hotel after the attack in Ouagadougou on 17 January, 2016.
The Splendid Hotel after the attack in Ouagadougou on 17 January, 2016. AFP
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