Burkina Faso Military Forces Accused of Massacre in Soro and Nondin Villages, Killing 223 Civilians

In a horrific incident on February 25, 2024, military forces in Burkina Faso ended the lives of 223 civilians, including 56 children, in attacks on the villages of Soro and Nondin. According to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigation, the mass killings were among the worst army abuse incidents in the country in nearly a decade.

Witnesses reported that over 100 soldiers descended on the villages shortly after Islamist fighters had passed nearby. The military accused the villagers of aiding the fighters, which the villagers denied. Soldiers then systematically forced villagers from their homes, gathered them in groups, and opened fire indiscriminately, even on those attempting to flee.

Why this matters: The massacre highlights the ongoing civilian casualties in Burkina Faso's counterinsurgency operations, with over 20,000 people killed in the nine-year-old conflict. The incident also underscores the failure of Burkinabè authorities to prevent and investigate such atrocities, despite the junta's promises to quell the insurgency.

HRW has called for the United Nations and the African Union to provide investigators and support local efforts to bring those responsible to justice. The killings may amount to crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Militant Threat: Burkina Faso, a Sahel country ruled by a military junta that seized power in a 2022 coup, has been struggling to contain Islamist insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Jihadist groups now control over a third of the country, and violence has only escalated despite the junta's promises. The country has also severed military ties with France and turned to Russia for security support.

"Burkinabè authorities should urgently undertake a thorough investigation into the massacres with support from the African Union and the United Nations to ensure its independence and impartiality," said Carine Kaneza Nantulya, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The repeated failure of the Burkinabè authorities to prevent and investigate such atrocities underlines the need for international assistance to support a credible investigation into possible crimes against humanity."

Key Takeaways

• Military forces in Burkina Faso killed 223 civilians, including 56 children.
• The massacre was among the worst army abuse incidents in nearly a decade.
• Over 20,000 people have been killed in Burkina Faso's 9-year insurgency conflict.
• HRW calls for UN/AU investigation to bring perpetrators to justice for possible crimes.
• Burkina Faso's military junta has failed to prevent and investigate such atrocities.