Burkina Faso Court Sentences Two To Life For 2017 Restaurant Massacre

A court in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, has sentenced two individuals to life imprisonment for their involvement in the 2017 attack on the Aziz Istanbul restaurant, which claimed the lives of 19 people.

The sentencing, handed down on Thursday, January 2, 2025, was announced by the office of the counter-terrorism unit. A statement from the unit confirmed, “Two defendants were tried during a session in November and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

The attack, carried out in March 2017, saw gunmen open fire on patrons at the Turkish restaurant, located along Ouagadougou’s main avenue. The victims included 10 Burkinabe nationals and nine foreigners.

Although no group claimed responsibility, the attack mirrored a series of incidents targeting venues frequented by expatriates in the region.

Following a thorough investigation, the two individuals were arrested in 2018 during an operation linked to the case. During the initial attack, security forces neutralized the two assailants in a counteroffensive.

This life sentence represents a significant step in addressing acts of terrorism that have plagued Burkina Faso in recent years.