Burkinabe army denies allegations of killing of more than 100 civilians

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Burkinabe army on Sunday denied allegations of the death of more than 100 civilians during abuses committed by the Burkinabe army in the Sahel and said investigations will be carried out into the claims.

In a report entitled "Burkina: more than a hundred civilians have been killed during abuses by the armed forces", published online on 22 April 2022, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported allegations of abuses committed by the National Armed Forces (FAN).

RFI reported, among other things, that following an operation in certain localities in the Oudalan region in the Sahel, Burkinabe soldiers "killed all the men, including adolescents".

"The Ministry of State, Minister of Defence and Veterans, in view of the seriousness of the allegations, strongly reaffirms that the national armed forces, engage in several operations to secure the national territory, carry out their missions with a high awareness of respect for human rights."

The army said that these operations are primarily aimed at protecting the population and their property against the indiscriminate violence of armed terrorist groups with its numerous civilian and military victims.

"Therefore, such allegations are the antithesis of the military goals, as well as the values and principles that frame the conception and conduct of operations," the Burkinabe army said.

-0- PANA NTDD/IS/MTA/MA 24April2022