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Two Spanish journalists and an Irish national were abducted in eastern Burkina Faso on April 26. They disappeared alongside a Burkinabe soldier after an attack on an anti-poaching military unit in a national park in the east of the country, near the border with Benin. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed that two Spaniards were killed, naming the victims. Both were described as seasoned war journalists. They reportedly had histories of working in conflict zones in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq etc.
Se confirma la peor de las noticias. Todo el cariño para los familiares y allegados de David Beriain y Roberto Fraile, asesinados en Burkina Faso. Y nuestro reconocimiento a quienes, como ellos, realizan a diario un periodismo valiente y esencial desde las zonas de conflicto.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 27, 2021
Ireland’s RTE cited senior Burkina Faso security sources as saying that the Irish national also died.
The two journalists were reportedly part of a group of 40.
According to the New York Times, they were filming a documentary about anti-poaching activities in the Western African nation when their convoy was ambushed.
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The authorities in Burkina Faso said in a statement on April 27 that the country had faced “a resurgence of terrorist acts” since Sunday. Around 10 people had been reportedly killed in separate attacks.
