Unidentified armed groups are believed to have kidnapped women and girls on Thursday and Friday near the town of Arbinda, located to the north.
UN Secretary General António Guterres strongly condemned the incident.
‘No effort’
“The Secretary-General calls for immediate and unconditional release of abducted women and girls and for their safe return to their families,” UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement. statement.
Mr Guterres called on authorities to “make every effort to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.”
He also underscored the UN’s commitment to continue working with the West African nation and international partners, including strengthening the protection of civilians and supporting efforts towards lasting peace.
UN human rights chief ‘alarmed’
The UN’s head of human rights, Volker Türk, has also called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
“I was shocked when dozens of women who went out to feed their families were kidnapped broad daylight, in what could be such a first attack deliberately aimed at women in Burkina Faso, he said in statement in Monday.
Türk noted that Arbinda is one of many towns and villages in the north of the country that have been besieged by armed groups since early 2019.
Insecurity ‘unprecedented’
This has made it extremely difficult for people to access food, water, and other basic goods and services.
“I call for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted women and the national authorities to quickly conduct an effective, impartial and independent investigation to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” he said.
Earlier this month, the UN Security Council heard again how countries in West Africa and the Sahel continue to face many challenges, including an “unprecedented” level of insecurity.
Giovanie Biha, Officer in Charge of the United Nations Regional Office, UNOWAS, said the activities of armed groups, violent extremists and criminal networks have forced thousands of schools and medical centres. economic shutdown, and displaced millions of people.
