Massacre in Burkina Faso: Military Accused of Killing Over 220 Civilians, Including Children

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – In a devastating report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the military in Burkina Faso has been accused of one of the most severe abuses in nearly a decade: the massacre of over 220 civilians, including at least 56 children.

The incident, which took place on February 25, saw 179 people killed in Soro village and 44 in the adjacent Nondin village.

HRW's investigation suggests that these attacks were retaliatory, following suspicions from the military that the villagers were aiding armed Islamist fighters.

This suspicion arose after Islamist militants attacked a military camp in the northern Yatenga province, potentially triggering the military's harsh response.

Eyewitness accounts from survivors describe how over 100 soldiers stormed into Nondin village shortly after the passing of Islamist fighters.

The soldiers reportedly removed residents from their homes, assembled them, and commenced shooting. Approximately an hour later, a similar tragic event unfolded in Soro village, about 5 kilometers away, where soldiers also targeted villagers attempting to hide or flee.

Despite the gravity of these allegations, the Burkinabè government has yet to respond to HRW's report.

However, last month, public prosecutor Aly Benjamin Coulibaly called for witnesses to step forward to aid in identifying those responsible for the killings, initially putting the death toll at 170.

Tirana Hassan, HRW's executive director, highlighted the ongoing pattern of violence, stating, "The massacres in Nondin and Soro villages are just the latest mass killings of civilians by the Burkina Faso military in their counterinsurgency operations."

Since a military coup in 2022, Burkina Faso has been under the rule of a military junta, and violence has escalated, with jihadists controlling over a third of the country's territory.

International organizations, including the European Union and the United Nations, have condemned Burkina Faso for significant human rights violations in its battle against insurgency, notably indiscriminate killings and the forced disappearances of civilians.

This massacre underscores the critical need for accountability and a revision of military strategies in conflict zones to prevent further harm to innocent civilians amid these security crises.