A new report from Human Rights Watch accuses Burkina Faso’s military forces of summarily executing 223 civilians, including 56 children, in the villages of Nondin and Soro in February. The mass killings were part of a widespread military campaign against civilians suspected of collaborating with armed groups. The killings occurred following attacks by armed groups on military targets and civilian infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of civilians, soldiers, and militia members. The Defence Minister denounced the attacks but did not mention the mass killings of civilians in Nondin and Soro.
The violence in Burkina Faso has displaced over two million people and led to almost 20,000 deaths. The country is currently under military rule led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who came to power in a coup in September 2022. The military government is struggling to control areas held by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL, and has been criticized for its crackdown on freedom of speech and intimidation of critics. The situation has prompted international rights groups to call for support from the United Nations and African Union in investigating possible crimes against humanity.
The villages of Nondin and Soro are among many in Burkina Faso’s Thiou district that have been targeted by the al-Qaeda affiliate group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Human Rights Watch has condemned the Burkina Faso military for the repeated mass killings of civilians in their counterinsurgency operations. The failure of Burkinabe authorities to prevent and investigate such atrocities underscores the need for international support in conducting a credible investigation.
In response to a lack of progress in Western military assistance, Burkina Faso’s military rulers have severed ties with France and sought security support from Russia. The United States recently imposed sanctions on leaders of groups, including JNIM, who have been accused of taking hostages, including Americans, in West Africa. Among those sanctioned are two leaders of JNIM in Mali and Burkina Faso.
