In the most recent outbreak of violence in the West African country, 33 soldiers were killed and 12 others were injured in an attack on a military installation in the country’s eastern region. Before reinforcements arrived, the besieged soldiers reportedly killed at least 40 “terrorists” on Thursday. The military outpost at Ougarou, Est, was the intended target of the attack. Since 2015, Burkina Faso’s military has been fighting insurgents.
At least two million people have been forced to leave their homes, and it is estimated that over 10,000 civilians and members of the security services have been killed. About a third of the country is ungoverned territory. The military’s frustration with the continued bloodshed led to two coups last year, one of which installed current commander Captain Ibrahim Traore in September. He claims he will reclaim lost territory, but since the new year began, assaults on security troops and civilians have increased, killing hundreds. With the previous military administration’s goal to organize elections for a civilian government by 2024, Traore has stated his commitment to this timeline.
Supposed military atrocity
This current outbreak of violence follows accusations that the military targeted innocent civilians during counterinsurgency operations. The government voiced “particular concern over reports of killings, in circumstances that remain to be clarified” on Thursday, according to a statement sent by Communications Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo. It called on investigators to “shed light on the affair, which is repellent to the individual and collective conscience of all men and women enamored of peace, justice, and freedom” and denounced “these unspeakable and barbaric acts” in the northern town of Karma. Residents of Karma and others who managed to escape have released a statement detailing the hours-long carnage committed by uniformed personnel. The spokesperson for the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Ravina Shamdasani, has estimated that “at least 150 civilians” were killed in the strike.
