The Army aircraft reportedly hovered above when the killing took place, indicating command and management of the surgery.
At least 130 civilians belonging to the Fulani ethnic group were killed in March by Burkina Faso’s army and allied militias near the western town of Sorenzo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
The killing took place amid a week-long military campaign by special forces that led to “wide range of civilian deaths and massive evacuation” in the area’s Fulani pastoral community, the Rights Group said in a report Monday.
It added that a group of al-Qaeda, known as Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam Wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), has launched a series of retaliatory attacks that raided villages that the troops perceived as supporting the troops.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher at HRW Sahel, said in a statement that it was “a viral video of atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo.”
“Further research revealed that Burkina Faso’s military was responsible for these mass murders of Fulani civilians, followed by fatal retaliation by armed Muslim groups,” Allegrozzi added.
“The government needs to investigate these deaths impartially and prosecute all those responsible.”
“Many women and children have passed away.”
In March, HRW reported that government involvement is likely due to online video evidence.
At the time, the government strongly denied the allegations, saying in a statement it “denounced social media, images that induce hatred and community violence, and false information aimed at undermining the social cohesion of the West African country.”
The Burkina Faso government and the army did not immediately respond to Monday’s report. This allegedly led and participated by the ethnic civilians who led and participated in the massacre of over 130 people, and perhaps even more ethnic civilians.
The rights group’s report is based on interviews with witnesses from attacks, militia members, journalists and civil society members.
Witnesses cited by HRW said hundreds of government forces and drones and pro-government militias, known as homeland Defense (VDP) volunteers, were involved in attacks on Sorenzo and other towns in the West Bourg-du-Moohoen area.
Witnesses said most of the victims in Banwa are women, children and elderly people.
Military helicopters and drones were monitored as “indicating direct command control for the surgery” and “indicating direct command control for the surgery.” HRW said.
The 44-year-old Fulani pastor, who lost eight families, told HRW that thousands of families in more than 20 villages were forced to flee to nearby Mali in search of protection.
“However, we were unable to reach Mali without crossing the village. [that were] It is occupied by the VDP and the Army. The VDP shot us like animals, drones flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they couldn’t run,” he said.
The military ruler came to power in Burkina Faso in 2022, but has largely failed to provide the promised stability as more than 60% of the country is estimated to be out of government control.
The military also relied on large recruitment of civilians deployed in untrained militia units, exacerbating tensions between ethnic groups.
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