Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – A court in Burkina Faso has sentenced two individuals to life imprisonment for their involvement in the deadly 2017 attack on the Aziz Istanbul restaurant in the capital, Ouagadougou, which claimed the lives of 19 people.
The attack, which occurred in August 2017, saw two gunmen open fire on patrons at the restaurant. While no group claimed responsibility for the attack, it followed a series of similar attacks targeting popular gathering spots in the city.
Two attackers were killed by security forces during the initial assault. Following an investigation, two individuals were detained in 2018 and subsequently brought to trial. 
The victims included 10 Burkinabes and nine foreigners. This attack followed a similar incident in January 2016, where a hotel and cafe were targeted, resulting in 30 deaths and 71 wounded.
In March 2018, further attacks targeted the army headquarters and the French embassy, claiming the lives of eight Burkinabe soldiers.
This sentencing comes amidst a surge in violence by jihadist armed groups across Burkina Faso.
The conflict has had a devastating impact on the country, forcing nearly two million people from their homes and resulting in the tragic loss of over 26,000 lives since 2015, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
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