Burkina Faso pays tribute to its soldiers killed in Ouagadougou attack

In Burkina Faso, the eight soldiers of the Burkinabe armed forces killed in the terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou on March 2 were buried at Gounghin military cemetery on Wednesday.

They have all been posthumously decorated. The political authorities, religious, families and friends came to pay a last tribute to these soldiers.

The eight soldiers were posthumously awarded the Military Medal of Honor. The ceremony was held in front of a large public who came to pay a last tribute to the soldiers who fell in the attack claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Muslim and Islamist Support Group.

For families, this moment is always difficult, especially the circumstances of their deaths.

“It’s really a moment of sadness for us here,” one of the victims’ relatives sobs. He was there, we could not even see his body, his body was unrecognizable. May all those who are there rest in peace, he added.

General Oumarou Sadou, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, saluted the courage and sacrifice of his fallen men on the battlefield. But he assures that Burkina Faso will not lower its weapons until the terrorists are defeated.

“They did not fall in vain, says the military. We had comrades who fell at the borders and the fight will continue. We are in a subregion that is also engaged in a pooling of resources to fight terrorism on our borders. We stand in solidarity with this cause. We will defend ourselves and combine our efforts with others.”

The fallen soldiers’ brothers-in-arms, emphasize that they will always stand up against terrorism.” Even with bare hands, we will fight them,” a soldier said.