HRW reveals summary executions by Burkina Faso military against civilians accused of collaborating with jihadists in February campaign

In February, approximately 223 individuals, including 56 children, were summarily executed by Burkina Faso’s military as part of a campaign against people accused of collaborating with jihadist militants, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The watchdog based its report on an investigation into the killing of around 170 individuals in attacks on three villages in northern Yatenga province. A regional prosecutor previously mentioned these killings in a statement from March 1st but no official findings have been released since then, as has happened with previous cases of extrajudicial executions in Burkina Faso. HRW interviewed witnesses, civil society activists and international organizations between February 28th and March 31st via telephone for their report. The soldiers reportedly went door-to-door in the village of Soro on Feburary 25th after attacking Nodin, ordering people out of their homes before executing them as retaliation for a jihadist attack on a military camp nearby. Human Rights Watch’s Executive Director Tirana Hassan stated that “The Burkinabe army has repeatedly committed mass atrocities against civilians in the name of fighting terrorism with almost no one held to account.” HRW called upon authorities to investigate these killings, urging international bodies for their assistance on issues concerning impartiality and independence. Despite recent failures from African Union member states like Mali or Niger who have carried out coups since 2018 (due to grievances surrounding alleged collateral damages suffered during government actions), officials representing the Burkinan government refused HRW’s attempts for a statement over these events as neither did their Ministry of Defense.