The town of about 300,000 residents has been under attack for months by armed militants. Food is also getting scarce following a prolonged drought.

Captain Traoré visited the soldiers on Saturday to comfort and encourage them, according to a statement by the presidency that was released on Monday.

He acknowledged that there were dysfunctions that must be corrected for greater efficiency on the northern front, the statement added.

He promised many of them would be allowed to go home and added that more intelligence and support would be available.

At least 10 soldiers were killed and over 50 others wounded in the 24 October attack at a military camp in the town - one of the deadliest on the armed forces since Mr Traoré rose to power in a coup.

Earlier in September, 27 soldiers were killed in Gaskindé while escorting a convoy of supplies headed to Djibo town.

Captain Traoré overthrew his former comrade, Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba on 30 September, after accusing him of failing to fulfil his promise of quelling the Islamist insurgency that has gripped Burkina Faso since 2015.