The most recent incident of violence in Burkina Faso has caused the death of 33 soldiers and injured 12 others following an attack on a military base in the country’s eastern region. The army reported that the besieged soldiers killed at least 40 “terrorists” before reinforcements arrived. Burkina Faso’s armed forces have been engaged in conflict with rebels since 2015, resulting in the deaths of over 10,000 civilians and security personnel, and the displacement of at least two million people.
The ongoing violence has led to frustration within the military and caused two coups in 2022, leading to the rise of the current leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore. He pledged to reclaim lost territories and hold elections to elect a civilian government by 2024. However, attacks on security forces and civilians have continued to intensify since the beginning of the year, resulting in many deaths.
Allegations have been made against the army for indiscriminately killing civilians during anti-insurgency missions, with reports of a massacre in the northern village of Karma. The government complained about the killings and urged investigators to shed light on the matter. Survivors and residents of Karma have reported over 100 deaths and described a prolonged massacre by uniformed men, while a UN spokesperson suggested that the number of civilians killed may exceed 150.
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Source: Omanghana.com