A man from Ghana shared with the BBC his harrowing experience of being kidnapped at gunpoint by jihadists in Burkina Faso. He was taken to their desert camp where he witnessed children being trained as suicide bombers, tunnels dug for protection, and armored tanks to shield from air strikes.
The man, known as James to protect his identity, described his terrifying first day at the camp and how he was nearly recruited by the insurgents with promises of power and weapons training. Fortunately, he managed to secure his release after two weeks by pleading for his freedom.
Ghana, a stable democracy, has so far been spared the violence that has plagued Burkina Faso and its neighboring countries. However, the jihadists have been expanding their control in the region, causing thousands to flee into northern Ghana to escape the conflict.
The jihadists, affiliated with al-Qaeda, have been active in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. They have also carried out attacks in other West African countries, raising concerns about the spread of insurgency towards the coast.
Despite attempts to recruit young Ghanaians, the jihadists have faced resistance from communities and security forces. However, there are fears that continued recruitment efforts could establish a foothold in remote areas, posing a threat to regional stability. Michael Mvondo / BBC
Ghana has been leading efforts since 2022 to establish a new Western-backed regional force of 10,000 troops to combat the Islamist insurgency. The headquarters of this force is supposed to be in Tamale, the largest city in northern Ghana.
However, the headquarters has not yet opened, and the fate of the initiative is uncertain as the region has divided between pro-Western and pro-Russian states. Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has aligned with Russia and formed their own alliance to combat the insurgents, relying on Russian mercenaries for support.
Ghana and other regional states have remained allied with the West. Ghana’s military has set up bases in the north, but the newly installed border surveillance equipment is not yet operational, according to a security officer speaking anonymously to the BBC.
More troops have been sent following recent attacks by JNIM on the Burkina Faso side of the border, the officer added. Ghana’s government did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC, but the Ghanaian ambassador to Burkina Faso stated that the two countries are collaborating to combat the insurgents.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, set to form the next government after winning elections in December, has promised to enhance border security with international partners and improve intelligence capabilities. In August 2023, the European Union announced an aid package including armoured vehicles and surveillance equipment for Ghana.
Despite the security risks, many civilians and refugees continue to cross the Ghana-Burkina Faso border for work or to visit relatives. One individual named James shared his experience of being captured by insurgents in Burkina Faso while traveling to Senegal on his motorbike.
He described encountering the insurgents in north-western Burkina Faso and being taken to their camp, where he was interrogated before being accepted as not a spy. James provided details of the camp, including the living conditions and activities of the insurgents he observed during his time there.
The atmosphere at the camp was relaxed, with jihadists going out to fight and celebrating upon their return. James also shared darker aspects of the insurgents’ behavior, including the capture and trade of women, as well as the training of children in weapons and explosives.
He witnessed women performing domestic tasks, some being used as sex slaves or forced to become fighters. Children, including those of jihadists, were being trained in combat tactics. James recounted seeing children being prepared with suicide vests, highlighting the disturbing realities of life at the insurgent camp. Michael Mvondo / BBC
Los yihadistas le dijeron que cuando anticipan una batalla difícil en una ciudad o campamento militar, envían niños disfrazados de mendigos que luego se hacen explotar, para que los combatientes puedan entrar en medio del caos, dijo James.
Agregó que tres yihadistas le dijeron que “sacrifican a sus hijos como bombas suicidas y les pagan después de cada misión”, aunque no revelaron la cantidad.
Dijo que los yihadistas intentaron adoctrinarlo, predicando que “todo lo occidental es malo” y mostrándole videos de propaganda todas las noches, incluido uno de la invasión de Estados Unidos a Iraq y la matanza de palestinos en el conflicto actual con Israel.
Según James, dado que la insurgencia se estaba llevando a cabo en países de habla francesa, todos los yihadistas eran francófonos, pero uno hablaba inglés con acento ghanés, y siempre mantuvo su rostro cubierto para que no pudiera verlo.
Como señal de que los yihadistas también estaban influenciados por el panafricanismo, James dijo que algunos de ellos invocaron los nombres de revolucionarios como Thomas Sankara de Burkina Faso y Kwame Nkrumah de Ghana, y le dijeron que la gente debería “levantarse” contra “malos líderes” y liberarse de “la esclavitud”.
AFP
Thomas Sankara gobernó Burkina Faso desde 1983 hasta su asesinato en 1987
James dijo que los yihadistas también expresaron la opinión de que si Sankara y Nkrumah hubieran “vivido más tiempo”, entonces “todo África habría sido un lugar mejor – nadie habría viajado de África al oeste. La gente habría estado viajando del oeste a África”.
James, desempleado en ese momento, dijo que su retórica era poderosa, y solo la “fortaleza de corazón” lo impidió unirse a sus filas.
Sobre cómo fue capturado exactamente, James dijo que dos amigos musulmanes viajaban con él en ese momento, prometiéndole presentarlo a un líder espiritual musulmán en Senegal que podría rezar por él y mejorar su fortuna.
Los tres fueron interceptados por los yihadistas cuando estaban llegando al final de la primera etapa de su viaje, dijo.
James agregó que uno de sus amigos fue asesinado a tiros cuando intentaba huir, mientras que su otro amigo fue llevado con él al campamento.
Michael Mvondo from BBC