Bullet holes are seen on a telegraph pole outside the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, Jan 16, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

No surprise

The attackers torched cars and fired in the air to drive people back on Friday before entering the Splendid Hotel and taking hostages.

French and US military personnel backed up Burkina Faso security forces when they launched their operation to reclaim the Splendid Hotel in the early hours of Saturday.

France normally has up to 200 special forces troops in the country as part of a regional anti-militant operation.

While many in Burkina Faso and across the region were shocked by the raid, there have been indications that the security situation in the majority Muslim but religiously diverse nation was deteriorating.

"There have been warning signs and if there is an element of surprise it is that this did not come earlier," said Cynthia Ohayon, West Africa analyst at International Crisis Group.