OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso’s commander general says armed forces have killed 146 extremists in three counterattack operations in the northwest near its border with Mali.
Gen. Moise Minoungou spoke on National Television late Monday saying armed men entered Kain village early Monday and killed 14 men and women. He said Burkina Faso’s army responded by fighting in Kain, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Ouahigouya in the north Yatenga province. With air support it also fought in Bahn in the north region and Bomboro in the Boucle du Mouhon region.
He said the combined operations killed 146 extremists fleeing to Mali.
Extremists have increased attacks in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region, also shifting to the forested east near the Niger border.
Burkina Faso is part of the G5 Sahel regional counterterror force.
Burkina Faso forces kill 146 extremists after civilian attack
Burkina Faso forces kill 146 extremists after civilian attack
- The combined operations killed 146 extremists fleeing to Mali
- Extremists have increased attacks in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region, also shifting to the forested east near the Niger border
UK starts visa requirements for St. Lucians
- Saint Lucia’s government said it was actively engaging with British government
- It said it would continue talks to “explore pathways for maintaining strong mobility arrangements“
CASTRIES: Britain has introduced a visa requirement for Saint Lucians effective from Thursday citing a “notable increase” in nationals from the small Caribbean nation claiming asylum, Saint Lucia’s government said in a statement.
Immigration is one of Britain’s most politically sensitive issues, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has sought to show it is tightening the system as the populist Reform UK party gains ground in opinion polls.
Saint Lucia, a former British colony, has a population of about 180,000. Last year, the World Bank estimated a net emigration of just 23 people.
Its government said it was actively engaging with British government and would continue talks to “explore pathways for maintaining strong mobility arrangements.”
It said it was informed in a letter dated Wednesday.
Saint Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth, an association of mostly former British colonies. Before the 1970s, nationals of many of these had the right to live and work in the UK. Saint Lucians previously needed a 16 pound Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to travel to the UK. \
There will be a six-week transition for ETA holders, its government said.
On Tuesday, Britain said it would block study visas for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan and halt work visas for Afghans.
