Four Moroccan truck drivers have gone missing in the border region between Burkina Faso and Niger, according to Reuters citing sources. The three trucks, carrying construction materials, disappeared en route from Dori in Burkina Faso to Téra in Niger.
One of the missing individuals was a backup driver. The drivers had departed from Casablanca, Morocco, a few weeks ago, heading toward Niger.
Typically, trucks travel through the border area with an escort from Burkina Faso authorities due to the presence of jihadists. On this occasion, the trucks left after a week of waiting without an escort toward Téra.
The Moroccan embassy informed Reuters that it is collaborating with Burkina Faso to locate the drivers. Both Burkina Faso and Niger are governed by juntas, but significant portions of the countries are controlled by jihadists.
Both nations have faced years of terror from militant groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State, with the Sahel experiencing the highest number of terror-related fatalities worldwide.
Source: NOS