On 16 March 2025, an armed group (likely JNIM militants, based on location) attacked volunteer fighters (VDP) in the village of Katoulbere (Dourtenga, Koulpelogo). Casualties unknown.

Burkina Faso Armed Conflict Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1. Summary

On March 16, an armed conflict occurred in Katulbere village, Koulpélogo Province, Burkina Faso, where JNIM-affiliated armed groups attacked the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). The scale of casualties remains unconfirmed, and this incident is part of the ongoing pattern of terrorist activities in the Sahel region.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Agricultural production disruption: Burkina Faso is a major producer of cotton, sesame, and peanuts in West Africa, with rural armed conflicts posing risks to agricultural activities during the planting season (March-April)
• Inland transport network instability: Security instability along overland transport routes connecting to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana ports poses potential impact on import-export logistics for West African landlocked countries
• Potential mining operation suspension: The eastern region is an active gold mining area, raising concerns about small-scale mining operation shutdowns in case of security deterioration
• Regional market dysfunction: Village-level attacks may disrupt local food and essential goods distribution networks and cause population displacement

3. Watch points

• VDP operation reduction status: Potential expansion of security gaps in rural areas and additional constraints on economic activities if Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland activities decline
• JNIM activity expansion patterns: Whether attacks spread to neighboring areas and changes in the level of civilian economic activity constraints due to intensified government military response operations