Spanish journalists David Beriáin and Roberto Fraile killed in Burkina Faso

The two Spanish journalists who were filming a documentary in Burkina Faso have been killed after being kidnapped during a new attack in the southeast of the country. This was confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya, at a press conference after the Council of Ministers.

The two Spanish journalists are David Beriáin and cameraman Roberto Fraile. They were working on a report on wildlife when they lost contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this regard, local media had reported a kidnapping during an attack in the area where the journalists were. Three people were wounded and four were missing during the attack in the area. 

The journalists had been missing since Monday, along with a Burkinabe and an Irish national. Security sources told the infowakat news portal that the attack was carried out by unidentified gunmen against a mixed patrol of the anti-poaching unit in Kompienga province.

Burkina Faso, like much of the Sahel region of West Africa, is facing a deepening security crisis as groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State carry out attacks against the army and civilians, despite assistance from French and UN forces. Insurgents are believed to be holding several foreign hostages in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.