Burkina Faso protesters demand government response to rising bloodshed Burkina Faso News

There have been several deadly attacks by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL in the landless territory of West Africa.

Thousands have taken to the streets of Burkina Faso to demand a stronger response to the rise in bloodshed after the death of more than 130 people last month.

Some have traveled hundreds of kilometers to attend an opposition rally in the capital Ouagadougou, where protesters waved the red and green flag of Burkina Faso and blew whistles on Saturday.

Armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) are originally stationed in the Mali district in the north and east of the country, and have launched attacks on civilians.

“We had to show our displeasure, show the distress of the citizens who are demanding security and peace,” said opposition supporter Alpha Yago on the side of the protest.

A protester held up a poster with a photo of the coffins with the flag and the slogan: “Mr. President, have the courage to decide. We are disgusted!”

It was the first march organized by the opposition and civil society groups since Roch Marc Christian Kabore became president re-elected last year.

Kabor asked the organizers to delay the march. Opposition leader Eddie Komboigo “despite a huge mobilization across the country, the government called for a boycott.”

“Today, from Dori to Kampti, from Dedougou to Diebougou, from Ouagadougou to Diapaga, people have demonstrated at the demonstration to protest the deteriorating security situation,” he said.

“In Kabor’s first term there were officially 1,300 dead and more than 1.2 million people,” he added.

“There is a fear that the second term will be worse than the first, because we have had more than 300 deaths since the beginning of the year.”

Anger has been rising since the night of June 4, then the deadliest attack years was held in the village of Solhan.

Authorities said armed men – including “young people between the ages of 12 and 14” – killed at least 132 people, according to the government.

Local sources say the toll is 160, including many children.

According to civil society figure Aristide Ouedraogo, “in light of the recent macabre developments on the security front, the time has come to send a strong signal to the leaders.”

Chukwuemeka Ezek, executive director of the West African Peacebuilding Network, said many in Burkina Faso have lost confidence in the government.

“Every time the attack happens, the president limits his communication … and people are starting to feel helpless, they are thinking that the escalation of the attacks is proof of the weakness of the Burkina Faso government,” Ezek told Al Jazeera.

“The government needs to engage more with the opposition and civil society … and [it needs] to develop a community early warning system that will be anchored to the people, ”he added.

As anger escalates, Kabor removed the defense and security ministers from office on Wednesday. Kabor himself took up the post of defense minister.

Despite thousands of UN peacekeepers, attacks by rebel groups in the West African Sahel region have risen sharply since the beginning of the year, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which civilians have had to endure.