Burkina Faso has been targeted by jihadist groups which have links with Islamic State and al-Qaeda. The local terrorist groups are targeting the country for around three years.

Semafo has been on the local jihadists hit list in Africa for some time. It is the third attack on Semafo within the last 15 months.

In December 2018, terrorists killed five government security personnel on the same road from the Boungou mine. In August 2018, Semafo workers were targeted in two attacks when they were on the way to its another gold mine situated in the west of the country.

Probably, it has nothing to do with Sermafo. The attack itself happened 40 kilometres away from the mine.