Burkina Faso tells civilians to evacuate vast zones ahead of military operations

FILE PHOTO: Burkina Faso President Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba is surrounded by soldiers, as he arrives to motivate his troops, after armed men killed civilians and militaries over the weekend in Seytenga, at airport in Dori, Burkina Faso June 15, 2022. Burkina Faso's Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo

OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's army has ordered civilians to evacuate two large "military interest zones" in its northern and southeastern regions ahead of anticipated operations against Islamist insurgents, it said.

The announcement was made late on Monday, with few details about how long people have to evacuate or where they should go.