2016 Ouagadougou attacks

2016 Ouagadougou Islamic terrorist attacks
Part of the Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso, Islamist insurgency in the Sahel and Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
The Splendid Hotel in 2008
The Splendid Hotel is located in Burkina Faso
The Splendid Hotel
The Splendid Hotel
The Splendid Hotel is located in Africa
The Splendid Hotel
The Splendid Hotel
LocationOuagadougou, Burkina Faso
Coordinates12°21′40″N 1°31′05″W / 12.36111°N 1.51806°W / 12.36111; -1.51806
Date15–16 January 2016
19:30 – ~next morning (GMT)
TargetCappuccino restaurant, Splendid Hotel and Yibi hotel with Westerners (Alleged)
Attack type
Mass shooting, arson, hostage-taking, sieges, counter-attack
Deaths34 (including four attackers)[1][2][3][4][5]
Injured56+[3][6][7] (including some hostages during the rescue)[8]
Victims176 hostages (rescued)
PerpetratorsAl-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Al-Mourabitoun
No. of participants
6–7
(4 dead, 2–3 on the run)
MotiveIslamic terrorism

On 15 January 2016, gunmen armed with heavy weapons attacked the Cappuccino restaurant and the Splendid Hotel in the heart of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The number of fatalities reached 30,[1][9][10] while at least 56 were wounded; a total of 176 hostages were released[3][11] after a government counter-attack into the next morning as the siege ended. Three perpetrators were also killed.[4] The nearby YIBI hotel was then under siege, where another attacker was killed. Notably, former Swiss MPs Jean-Noël Rey and Georgie Lamon were killed. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al-Mourabitoun.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BNO2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference temps was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c "Foreigners killed at Burkina Faso luxury hotel". BBC. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Burkina Faso: Hotel siege ends; 22 killed, 126 people rescued". International Business Times, India Edition. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  5. ^ "At least 20 dead in Burkina Faso hotel attack: hospital chief". Yahoo! News. AFP. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Al Qaeda attack on Burkina Faso hotel kills 20; counter ops still on". Hindustan Times. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Coups de feu et détonations dans le centre de Ouagadougou : "une attaque terroriste" selon l'ambassadeur de France" (in French). France Info. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference tele was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Ouagadougou blasts: Burkina Faso capital hit by gunfire". BBC News. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Gunmen attack hotel, take hostages in Burkina Faso capital". 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Burkina Faso: Security forces raid besieged hotel, free hostages". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.