Army Linked to Massacre of 156 Civilians in Burkina Faso

Rights group, Human Rights Watch, says authorities should ensure an independent inquiry into the summary execution of at least 156 civilians allegedly by military forces on April 20, 2023, in the village of Karma.

The group also calls on the the African Union and the United Nations to ensure that the government's promised investigation is credible and independent and that all those responsible are brought to justice.

The report also says unlawful killings of civilians by Islamist armed groups and Burkinabè armed forces have spiked since 2022, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis.

Between April 25 and May 2, Human Rights Watch interviewed by telephone 14 people, including 6 witnesses to the killings, 2 people who visited Karma after the attack and attended the burials, 3 local civil society activists, and 3 members of international organizations knowledgeable about the facts. Human Rights Watch reviewed reports by Burkinabè organizations, as well as 135 photographs showing the massacre aftermath in Karma, including the dead and injured, as well as gunfire damage to buildings and burned houses.

Nearly all the bodies were found in Karma, including those of 11 villagers who were bound and blindfolded. Nine more bodies were found in the nearby villages of Dinguiri, Kèrga, and Ramdola.

Human Rights Watch obtained three lists of victim names compiled by survivors and others who visited the village. Most of the bodies were buried in four mass graves throughout Karma.

Survivors said the killings occurred during a six-hour operation carried out by the army. They believed the massacre was in retaliation for attacks by Islamist armed groups against Burkinabè troops and pro-government militias earlier in the month.