In a shocking revelation by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Burkina Faso military is accused of committing atrocities in two villages, killing 223 civilians, including 56 children, on February 25, 2024. This heinous crime, deemed among the worst perpetrated by the military in nearly a decade, has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations and activists.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Burkina Faso military of summarily executing 223 civilians, including 56 children, in two villages in February. The killings are believed to be part of a widespread military campaign against civilians accused of collaborating with armed groups. HRW has called for an independent investigation into possible crimes against humanity.
Burkina Faso’s military has been accused of killing 223 civilians, including 56 children, in two villages in the country’s north. The killings took place in February and were allegedly in retaliation for an attack by Islamist fighters on a military camp. The military has denied the allegations but has not provided any evidence to support its claims. The incident is the latest in a series of human rights abuses by Burkina Faso’s security forces amid a growing jihadi insurgency.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a damning report, accusing the Burkinabè army of executing more than 220 civilians, including 56 children, during operations in two villages on February 25. Witnesses described soldiers arriving on motorbikes and in vehicles, armed with Kalashnikovs and heavy weapons, and rounding up and gunning down civilians. The victims included women and pregnant women. The massacres occurred amid a US-backed counterterrorism campaign, with Burkina Faso being one of the largest recipients of American military aid in West Africa. Despite calls from HRW and civil society activists to halt military cooperation, the US continues to engage with the Burkinabè military, raising concerns about complicity in the atrocities.
