In this file photograph taken on June 27, 2012, Burkinabe soldiers patrol in a pick-up car in Gorom-Gorom, northern Burkina Faso. Suspected jihadists continue to kill in Burkina Faso's volatile north since Islamist violence erupted in the west African country in 2015.
The army said the death toll was 40 -- eight soldiers and 32 defence volunteers, adding that "at least 50 terrorists" were "neutralised" in the counter-attack, including a number killed in air strikes.
Burkina Faso's military junta had declared Thursday a "general mobilisation" to give the state "all necessary means" to combat a string of bloody attacks blamed on jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Ouagadougou,
At least 32 defence volunteers and 10 soldiers have died in suspected jihadist attacks in insurgency-hit northern Burkina Faso, officials said on Sunday.
