Burkina Faso army massacred 223 villagers in revenge attack - HRW

[muriel_volestrangler]

More than 220 civilians, including at least 56 children, were massacred by Burkina Faso's military in a single day this year, Human Rights Watch says.

In the attacks on 25 February, the army killed 179 people in Soro village and 44 others in the nearby Nondin village, an HRW investigation found.
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The soldiers went door-to-door, ejecting residents from their homes.

"They then rounded up villagers in groups before opening fire on them," the report added, citing witness and survivor accounts.
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The mass killings are believed to be retaliation by the military, which accused the villagers of aiding armed Islamist fighters.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68879696

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Burkina Faso suspends BBC over HRW report on alleged mass killings

Burkina Faso has suspended the BBC and US public broadcaster Voice of America over their coverage of a report accusing its army of mass killings.

Broadcasts have been stopped and the websites of both organisations banned for two weeks, officials said.
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In a statement on Thursday, Burkina Faso's media regulator warned all media outlets against covering the report, threatening sanctions, state-owned media reported.

A BBC spokesperson said: "The suspension reduces the BBC's ability to reach audiences with independent and accurate news. We will continue to report on the region in the public interest and without fear or favour."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68907385