Burkina Faso: MSF condemns brutal, deliberate killing of staff

PARIS/NEW YORK, February 8, 2023 — MSF condemns in the strongest terms the murder of two of its staff members today in the Boucle du Mouhoun region of northwestern Burkina Faso. MSF is suspending its activities in this region.

This morning, February 8, a clearly identified MSF vehicle was carrying a four-person medical team on the road between Dédougou and Tougan when it was targeted by armed men who shot at the passengers. Two MSF staff members were killed, while two others managed to escape.

The two victims, both from Burkina Faso, had been employed by MSF as a driver since July 2021 and as a logistics supervisor since June 2020. They were 39 and 34 years old, respectively. 

“We are shocked and outraged by this killing,” said Dr. Isabelle Defourny, MSF president. “This was a deliberate and intentional attack on a clearly identified humanitarian team, during its medical work. Our priority is to support the two colleagues who survived the attack, as well as the families and loved ones of our slain colleagues. We will also engage with all the parties to the conflict to understand what happened.”

We also want to reaffirm the unacceptable nature of this attack against colleagues traveling in a clearly marked MSF vehicle during their medical work. In all locations where MSF supports and provides medical and humanitarian aid in Burkina Faso, we will only respond to life-saving emergencies for an indefinite period. Our two slain colleagues are Souleymane Ouedraogo, an MSF logistics supervisor, and Komon Dioma, an MSF driver.

Burkina Faso is facing an unprecedented political, security and humanitarian crisis, resulting in the displacement of nearly two million people following violence between armed groups and government forces.

Between July and December 2022, MSF teams in Burkina Faso carried out nearly 400,000 primary health care consultations and provided care to nearly 4,300 women during childbirth in four regions of the country.

On February 17, 2023, MSF suspended its activities throughout Burkina Faso. As we mourn our colleagues, this suspension is necessary to analyze the risks to which our teams are currently exposed.