At least 180 bodies have been found in common graves in Djibo, a town in the north of Burkina Faso and Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the killings were likely carried out by government forces.
“Available evidence suggests government forces were involved in mass extrajudicial executions,” the report released on Wednesday stated.
The group called for the Burkina Faso government to hold those responsible to account and the latter has promised to investigate the matter, AFP news agency reported.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Moumina Cheriff Sy, said the killings could have been committed by jihadist groups using stolen army uniforms and logistical equipment.
“It is difficult for the population to distinguish between armed terrorist groups and the defence and security forces,” he said.
Burkina Faso has been battling militant groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State since 2017. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and almost a million displaced by the conflict, which is also affecting its neighbours, Niger and Mali.
Despite promises to investigate and prosecute previous reports of rights abuses, rights groups say the government had done little.
Concerns over increased reports of abuses by soldiers prompted European Union and Sahel leaders to warn during a security summit on June 30 that any of their troops found guilty of human rights abuses would be punished severely.
The Human Rights Watch report said the killings in Djibo likely took place between November, 2019 and June, 2020.
Residents who saw the bodies told Human Rights Watch that the dead were all men.
It said the bodies were left in groups along major roadways, under bridges, and in fields and vacant lots around Djibo.
“Burkina Faso authorities need to urgently uncover who turned Djibo into a ‘killing field,'” said Corinne Dufka, Sahel director at Human Rights Watch.
A community leader in Djibo told Human Rights Watch, “Many of the dead were blindfolded, had their hands tied up..and were shot in the head.”
Many who spoke to Human Rights Watch said they were fearful of being killed by government forces as well as jihadi militants.
“At night, so many times I’d hear the sound of vehicles and then, bam! bam! bam! … And the next morning we’d see or hear of bodies found in this place or that,” a Djibo farmer said.
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
