Burkina Faso President addressed the nation after 12 soldiers were killed, buildings burned and weapons carried away in a gunmen attack on a military camp on Friday close to the border with Mali.

At least 40 heavily armed unidentified men, early on Friday, attacked the military position of Nassoumbou, 45 km north to Djibo and about 30 km to the border with Mali.

"Faced with this new proof imposed to us by forces of evil, the Nation salutes the memory of the brave soldiers mown down by the murderous gunfire of the enemies of democracy", president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré said.

He underscored that it will be a tireless fight against terrorism in the country and promised strong decisions to give confidence and vitality to Burkina Faso armed forces.

President Kabore called on every Burkinabe citizen for unity and solidarity with soldiers to assist their efforts so as to ensure peace and security that are essential for the economic and social progress of the country.

"Never has the valiant people of Burkina Faso bent backwards before his enemies", the President said.

As consequence of the attack, Burkina Faso president has canceled his official visit to Abuja, in Nigeria, to attend the 50th summit of heads of States and governments of the Ecowas.

The West African country has been experiencing jihadist attacks over the past few years.

Mid-October this year, an attack on a military position killed three Burkinabe soldiers and two civilians in the northern part of the country.

In January, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed an attack that killed some 30 people in the capital Ouagadougou. 

source: Xinhua