Malian Raid on Border Town Violated Truce, Burkina Faso Says

Burkina Faso accused Mali on Friday of violating a cease-fire agreement arranged by Libya less than an hour after it was to go into effect by attacking a town on the border separating the two West African nations.

Burkina Faso’s government radio said the cease-fire was to have gone into effect at midnight Thursday to end two days of clashes over a longstanding border dispute.

But less than an hour later, Malian forces attacked the border town of Koloko, which is not in the disputed zone, the radio said. Details on casualties were not released, and Mali did not confirm the attack.

Burkina Faso radio, monitored in Abidjan, said Libyan Foreign Secretary Ali Tureiki arranged the cease-fire to end clashes between two of the world’s poorest nations. It said Burkina Faso--once known as Upper Volta--signed the agreement, but Mali refused.

No Comment From Mali

There was no immediate comment from Mali, but a Western diplomat reached in the Malian capital of Bamako said, “The claim of a cease-fire between the two parties seems premature.”

Burkina Faso said from the capital, Ouagadougou, that as a result of the attack on Koloko, it would continue fighting. But no new clashes were reported.

The border clashes erupted Christmas Day as an apparent result of a longstanding dispute involving a strip of land that is said to be rich in minerals. The land is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide near where Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger meet.

The dispute is currently before the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Both the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity have urged an end to the fighting.

The city of Koloko is not in the disputed zone but is on the main road between the southern Malian city of Sikasso--which Burkina Faso said it attacked Thursday--and the city of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city.

‘Victorious’ Raid

Burkina Faso radio said in the attack on Sikasso, 20 miles inside Mali, its air force bombed what it called two military targets near the town and killed at least 15 people and wounded about 30 others. It described the raid as “victorious.”

Burkina Faso claimed it recaptured four border towns after what it called a “barbarous Christmas Day attack” by Mali on Wednesday. Burkina Faso was reported to have occupied the four towns in Mali on Dec. 14. Burkina Faso announced a week ago that it had withdrawn all its soldiers from the area, but Mali claimed troops remained.

Both countries are members of the West African Economic Community of seven former French colonies, through which they technically have a non-aggression and mutual defense agreement. Mali has a per-capita gross national product of $180 while that of Burkina Faso is $210.