Burkina Faso’s military massacred over 220 civilians, including children, in two villages on February 25th, 2024, according to a recent HRW report. This is considered one of the worst military abuses in the country’s recent history. The military allegedly accused the villagers of collaborating with Islamist militants and opened fire on them.
Survivors reported soldiers rounding people up and shooting them, even those who tried to escape. Burkina Faso has been battling an Islamist insurgency, and the military junta that took power in 2022 has been accused of human rights abuses in their fight.