United Nations Human Rights and United States have reacted to the kidnapping of over 50 women by violent extremists near Arbinda in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso on January 12 and 13.
In a statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price on Monday, as US called for their return safely to their loved ones immediately and unconditionally, seeked those responsible held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
According to the statement, “The United States is deeply concerned by the abduction of more than 50 women by violent extremists near Arbinda in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso on January 12 and 13.
“Those abducted must be returned safely to their loved ones immediately and unconditionally, and those responsible should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts remain with those abducted as well as their families and other loved ones”.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk also expressed alarm at the abduction of at least 50 women in Burkina Faso on 12 and 13 January and called for their immediate and unconditional release.
“I am alarmed that dozens of women out to search for food for their families were abducted in broad daylight, in what could be the first such attack deliberately targeting women in Burkina Faso,” said Volker Türk.
“I call for the immediate and unconditional release of all the abducted women and for the national authorities to promptly conduct an effective, impartial and independent investigation to identify those responsible and hold them to account”, he said.
It was reported that the abductions took place approximately 15 kilometers from the village of Arbinda, in the Sahel region, and are alleged to have been carried out by members of armed groups.
Arbinda is one of many towns and villages in northern Burkina Faso that have been besieged by armed groups since early 2019, making it extremely difficult for residents to have access to food, water and other basic goods and services.
Meanwhile, security forces are searching for about 50 women kidnapped by suspected jihadists in insurgency-hit northern Burkina Faso, a regional governor said on Monday.
The women were kidnapped in separate incidents on Thursday and Friday as they foraged for food, in the latest attack on civilians by suspected Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked extremists.
Landlocked Burkina Faso is one of the poorest and most volatile nations in the world. Since 2015, it has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency that has killed thousands, displaced around two million people.