The western African nation of Burkina Faso has a reputation as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. There's a reason for that:
Islamist militants kidnapped around 50 women in Burkina Faso's northern province of Soum on January 12 and 13, the government said in a statement on Monday, confirming earlier reports in the media.
Local officials and residents speaking on condition of anonymity said roughly 40 women were seized a dozen kilometres southeast of Arbinda on Thursday
About 20 others were abducted the next day to the north of the town, the sources said, adding that several managed to escape and return to their villages to raise the alarm.
Burkina Faso is a desperately unstable place.
It has seen more than half a dozen coups over the last several decades — two last year alone — and for nearly 10 years has been fighting a surge in Islamist terrorism from both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, all while weathering drought, famine and other disasters.
Indeed, the lack of food in the country appears to have been a factor in this latest series of kidnappings:
"The women got together to go and gather leaves and wild fruits in the bush because there is nothing left to eat," said one resident, adding that they had left with their carts on Thursday.
"On Thursday evening, when they didn't come back, we thought that their carts had had a problem. But three survivors came back to tell us what happened," said another resident.
The same person said about 20 women, who had not known about the first abduction, were subsequently taken the next day, eight kilometres north of Arbinda.
"In both groups, some women managed to escape and returned to the village on foot," the resident added. "We believe that the kidnappers took them to their bases."
Scores of kidnappings and murders are not uncommon there:
