The attacks were claimed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, and caused inhabitants to flee the area, which has been plagued by jihadist violence for years.

"The Gomboro detachment in Sourou province was attacked twice last month. First on September 12, then on September 25," a security source told AFP, requesting anonymity, citing "around 10 deaths and many more injured".

The source said the dead included soldiers, as well as members of civilian self-defence militias.

A separate source in the security services said eight soldiers were killed in the two attacks.

Burkina Faso has been ruled for nearly three years by a junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who promised to restore security.

But large swathes of the country remain subject to attacks from armed jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

On Sunday, Traore, in an interview with local media, blamed the poor security situation on under-equipment of his army when he came to power in a coup.