African Union condemns Burkina Faso attack

Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], The African Union (AU) on Saturday strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

At least eight people were killed and 80 others were injured when a vehicle laden with explosives struck the French Embassy and the army headquarters in the Burkina Faso capital.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has expressed the AU's solidarity with the people and the government of Burkina Faso in these difficult circumstances, according to a statement from the pan-African bloc, Xinhua reported.

"The African Union will continue its advocacy efforts to sensitize the international community on the imperative of an international engagement that is commensurate with the threat confronting the countries of the region, said the chairperson", the statement added.

"The attacks are a further illustration of the seriousness of the scourge of terrorism in the Sahel (an arid region in central Africa), as well as of the urgency of a more sustained international action in support of the efforts of the countries of the region", it said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a statement condemning "in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attacks" in Ouagadougou, according to the CNN.

Burkina Faso, like other countries in West Africa, has been continuously targeted by extremist groups operating across the region.

The western countries, especially France, considers Burkina Faso a key ally in the fight against al-Qaeda in Africa.

Ouagadougou has been hit by terror attacks in the last two years. Friday's attack was the third one.

Also, 29 people were killed when militants stormed the Splendid Hotel, popular with Western diplomats in the city in 2016.

Last year in August, suspected extremists killed at least 18 people during a raid on a restaurant in Ouagadougou. (ANI)