Djibo


Djibo is a town in northern Burkina Faso and the capital city of Soum Province. It is situated north of Ouagadougou and from the border with Mali. It was founded in the 16th century and became the capital of Djilgodji, before becoming dominated by the Messina Empire in the 19th century. It is known for its animal market. The main ethnic group is the Fulani.
Djibo retains a traditional chieftaincy led by an emir.

History

The spillway of Djibo Dam was the scene of a potentially catastrophic accident involving a cyanide-laden truck en route to the nearby Inata gold mine on the 29 July 2011. The population of Djibo nearly tripled from about 100,000 to 270,000 between 2019 and 2022, as refugees fled from nearby villages due to the ongoing civil war
Africanews reported on 4 March 2022 that a humanitarian crisis was unfolding in the city as it was laid siege to by jihadist forces. On 11 May 2025, more than 100 people were reported killed in an attack by jihadists on the town.

List of emirs of Djibo