Burkina Faso bus blast: Students among 14 dead

Burkina Faso has been battling militants for years

At least 14 people have died and four injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up a bus in north-western Burkina Faso.

The vehicle was mainly carrying students back to their places of study after the New Year break.

Reports suggest the bus drove over the IED in Toeni, a department in the region of Sourou.

It is not clear who was behind the attack but jihadist threat has increased in Burkina Faso recently.

On Christmas Eve, 35 civilians were killed in the north of the country in a suspected jihadist attack on a military base.

• What is behind church attacks in Burkina Faso?

• Is France losing the battle against jihadists in Africa?

• 'We're raising our daughter as both Christian and Muslim'

Western countries have attempted to help governments in the region combat insurgents, but the violence has continued.