Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Burkina Faso army of causing the deaths of at least 60 civilians in drone strikes, targeting what the government claimed were jihadist fighters.
The incidents occurred in three military drone strikes since August, including two at crowded markets and another at a funeral, according to HRW’s report.
Captain Ibrahim Traore, the military leader who assumed power after a 2022 coup, has prioritized a robust security response to counter attacks by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
HRW, which conducted interviews with numerous witnesses between September and November and analyzed various sources, asserted that the Burkina Faso military deployed highly accurate weapons, resulting in numerous civilian casualties in violation of the laws of war.
The drone strikes were deemed to be apparent war crimes, violating prohibitions against attacks that fail to distinguish between civilians and military targets.
One of the incidents took place on August 3, with Burkina’s government reporting a “successful” air operation against Islamist fighters in Bouro.
The RTB television channel showcased a video of a guided munition striking a crowded market, leading to the death of 28 men and numerous injuries, as reported by local residents. The jihadist-affiliated Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM) was said to control the area.
Another drone strike occurred on November 18 at a crowded market near Boulkessi in Mali, where at least seven men were killed and five others injured. Although the government described the target as a “logistics base” for Islamist fighters, a witness contradicted this, stating that those killed were traders and civilians, not fighters.
In the northern Burkinabe town of Bidi, a drone strike hit a funeral gathering, resulting in the death of 24 men and a boy. Witnesses described the horrifying scenes of bodies on the ground, with HRW emphasizing that local residents sometimes face coercion to collaborate with the jihadists controlling the areas.
HRW called on the Burkina Faso government to urgently and impartially investigate these incidents, hold those responsible accountable, and provide adequate support for the victims and their families.
