attack was veried militants killed between 100 and 300 people in this August 24th attack on a town in northern bikina Faso it was one of the deadliest in the Sahel by groups linked to the Islamic State and alqaeda it came the same week a group of Russian mercenaries known as the bear Brigade announced a partial withdrawal from the West African country to help counter Ukraine's incursion into Russia's KK region one expert told vaa the mercenaries had been assist ING with personal security for bikina faso's military leader Captain Ibrahim trior and government officials their withdrawal raises a lot of questions about what will happen to the security of these Burkina Bay officials who it must be said are facing a number of challenges since September last year tror has fended off two attempted coups according to authorities he came to power in a 2022 coup himself claiming the previous mil Hunter had failed to turn the tide in the country's war against Islamic militants he also ended military cooperation with France and left the regional political block eoas enlisting the help of Russian mercenaries to Aid in the war effort instead Russian intervention has not stemmed the rise of Islamic terrorist groups in the Sahel but Ian says it's true that the situation today continues to be bad since the borina bay Army is being pushed out of large swats of land in many parts of the country with the rise in power of Jim and Isis in recent years Russia has also sent mercenaries to Mali and ner deaths from conflict have increased by 26% in the three countries in the last year data from the nonprofit armed conflict location and event data project show Henry Wilkins VA news