al-Qaeda affiliate releases names of 3 terrorists who attacked Burkina Faso

QUICK PILL

• The al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has released the names of three gunmen responsible for the 15 January terror attack.

• All three gunmen were killed in the deadliest terror attack on the West African nation - which also claimed the lives of 28 people.
• A day after the attack, an Australian couple were reportedly kidnapped by suspected AQIM militants in Burkina Faso.

Three days after the biggest terror strike to hit Burkina Faso, terror outfit al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has released the names of three gunmen responsible for the 15 January terror attack on the West African nation's capital city.

The terror outfit, which was earlier affiliated to the Islamic State before banding with al-Qaeda, identified three gunmen Battar al-Ansari, Abu Muhammad al-Buqali al-Ansari and Ahmed al-Fulani al-Ansari as the men responsible for the attack.

Following the attack on the Splendid hotel and Cappucino cafe in downtown Ouagadougou - both spots that were reportedly frequented by French military personnel - President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said the nation would step up their efforts to combat terrorism.

"These truly barbaric criminal acts carried out against innocent people, claimed by the criminal organization al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) seek to destabilize our country and its republican institutions, and to undermine efforts to build a democratic, quiet and prosperous nation," he said in a televised message.

Burkina Faso's deadliest terror attack yet

The West African country was rattled on 15 January when at least 28 people were killed and more than 50 injured on 15 January when AQIM militants opened fire on a hotel and cafe in downtown Ouagadougou. Over 100 people were also take hostage during the attack, but were freed by security personnel.

The attack was followed by a 12-hour siege between the militants and French and Burkinabe forces, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of three attackers.

According to AFP, the victims include people of 18 nationalities - including two Ukranians, six Canadians and seven citizens of Burkina Faso, among others.

AQIM released a statement and a photo online, claiming responsibility for the attacks. "In the heart of the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, and where employees of the kuffar [apostate] United Nations frequent, [this is] a reminder to the worshipers of the cross of their crimes against our people in Central Africa and Mali and other Muslim countries and revenge for our Prophet."

On 16 January, an Australian couple were reportedly kidnapped by suspected militants near the Malian border in Burkina Faso.

The attack has drawn global condemnation, with some also pointing out similarities between the incident and the terror attack on a Mali hotel in November 2015 - which claimed the lives of 21 people.