Burkina Faso Military Accused of Massacring Civilians in Counterinsurgency Operations

Human Rights Watch alleges that Burkina Faso military forces killed 223 civilians, including babies and children, in attacks on two villages accused of cooperating with militants.

In a shocking report published Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Burkina Faso military of carrying out mass killings of civilians in two villages accused of cooperating with militants. According to the report, the attacks took place on February 25 in the northern villages of Nondin and Soro, resulting in the deaths of 223 people, including 56 children.

HRW Executive Director Tirana Hassan condemned the massacres as the latest in a series of mass killings by the Burkina Faso military in its counterinsurgency operations. She called on the United Nations and the African Union to provide investigators and support local efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

The report provides a harrowing firsthand account of the killings by survivors, who described a stark increase in civilian casualties at the hands of the security forces. In a similar incident in November 2023, the Associated Press verified accounts of an army attack on another village that killed at least 70 people, with civilians being massacred under the guise of counterterrorism.

The killings in Nondin and Soro are believed to have been carried out in retaliation for an attack by Islamist fighters on a military camp near the provincial capital Ouahigouya. Witnesses and survivors told HRW that the attackers were dressed in government uniforms, leading to suspicions that they may have been soldiers or paramilitary forces.

The toll of civilian deaths in the February 25 attacks is significantly higher than the 170 previously reported by local officials. A Burkina Faso government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment, while officials have previously denied killing civilians and claimed that jihadi fighters often disguise themselves as soldiers.

Since 2014, more than 20,000 people have been killed and over 2 million displaced in Burkina Faso due to jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Despite military assistance from Western nations, the security situation has worsened, leading to the ouster of a democratically elected government in 2022 and the rise of a military junta led by Capt. Ibrahim Traoré.

Analysts warn that the junta's turn to Russia for security support instead of former colonial ruler France has not improved the security situation, with around half of Burkina Faso's territory remaining outside of government control. Frustration with Western military assistance has led to strained relations, highlighted by the recent expulsion of French forces from Burkina Faso.

The HRW report underscores the urgent need for an independent investigation into the mass killings in Nondin and Soro to ensure accountability and prevent further human rights abuses. International assistance and support for local efforts are crucial to bring justice to the victims and their families.