Abidjan, Ivory Coast — Families of civilians killed in a massacre in Burkina Faso have accused the army of endangering their lives by forcing them to leave their village to dig a trench, exposing them to militant attacks.
The attack occurred on Saturday in the village of Barsalogho in north-central Burkina Faso, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians and security personnel, according to local sources. The militant group JNIM, linked to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that they had taken control of a local militia headquarters.
The Justice Collective for Barsalogho, a group representing the victims’ families, issued a statement on Tuesday accusing Burkina Faso military officials of coercing villagers, under threat, to participate in construction work against their will. The statement alleges that the villagers were forced to dig a trench 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from the village for military use in combating the militants. The collective has called for investigations to identify those responsible for issuing the order.
Two videos purportedly documenting the massacre have circulated on social media, attributed to JNIM by various sources. The footage shows assailants in military attire firing automatic weapons at a trench filled with at least 91 bodies. Official authorities have not yet provided a death toll.
A member of the Justice Collective, who requested anonymity due to fear of military reprisals, reported helping to bury victims in mass graves containing “more than 100 bodies.”
Since 2015, rebels affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have been waging an insurgency in Burkina Faso, resulting in over 20,000 deaths, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.
A security source previously claimed that the actions of soldiers and auxiliary troops helped neutralize several terrorists and prevented a larger tragedy. Following a coup in September 2022, Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Ibrahim Traore, prioritized combating terrorism. This year, he urged civil auxiliary fighters assisting the army to “mobilize local people to dig trenches to protect yourselves” until machinery could be provided.
