The Burkinabè army has eliminated terrorist leader Khalidou in a precision airstrike, security sources confirmed to the Agence d’Information du Burkina (AIB). The operation carried out on April 1, targeted Khalidou while he was travelling in a luxury vehicle in the Arly Park region.
According to intelligence reports, the military had tracked Khalidou’s movements before launching the strike. An aerial asset followed his vehicle closely, and at the opportune moment, a fireball engulfed the car, killing him and several of his lieutenants.
Khalidou was known for orchestrating attacks in the eastern part of Burkina Faso, particularly within and around the Arly Park area. This region has witnessed increasing militant activity in recent years. His death is seen as a significant victory in the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism.
Burkina Faso has been battling Islamist insurgencies linked to groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The government has ramped up military operations in response to escalating violence, which has displaced thousands and put several regions under siege.
It will be recalled that according to a report released on March 5, Burkina Faso remains the most terrorism-affected nation, with a score of 8.581. It is followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776). Nigeria now ranks ahead of Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262), and Cameroon (6.944), which round out the top ten.
However, despite remaining the most terrorism-affected country, the report shows Burkina Faso saw a 21 per cent drop in deaths and a 57 per cent decrease in attacks in 2024. However, Niger recorded the sharpest rise in terrorism-related deaths. Fatalities surged by 94 per cent to 930, reversing earlier counterterrorism gains.
