EU Reportedly Confirms Massacre in Burkina Faso, with Dozens of Civilian Casualties
Around 100 innocent civilians were tragically killed in a horrific massacre that took place in a village in Burkina Faso, according to the European Union's diplomatic service
The European Union's diplomatic service stated on Monday that approximately 100 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a massacre that took place in the village of Zaongo in Burkina Faso's north-central region.
The US government and the EU condemned the attack and urged the transitional authorities in Burkina Faso, which is currently under military rule after a successful coup d'état in July 2022, to investigate and clarify the circumstances behind the massacre in order to identify those responsible. Since assuming power, the junta has prioritized security; however, it has faced challenges in containing the activities of Islamist groups, leading to several civilian casualties throughout the year.
The thwarted coup attempt comes nearly a year after Burkina Faso's junta leader Ibrahim Traore (center) seized power in the West African nation.
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In early April, terrorist activity was held responsible for the deaths of a minimum of 44 individuals in separate assaults on villages in northern Burkina Faso. Later in the same month, a village in the same region experienced a similar brutal attack by armed men in military uniform, resulting in the deaths of 136 individuals, including infants. The authorities strongly denounced this attack and initiated an investigation into the matter.
The Sahel region has been engulfed by violence originating from Islamist groups associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State, with Burkina Faso serving as the epicenter. Amnesty International has reported that significant portions of the impoverished country are currently being subjected to the onslaught of armed groups, perpetrating war crimes and violating human rights.
The EU expressed its condemnation of the recent attack and reiterated its unwavering support for the people of Burkina Faso, recognizing them as the primary victims of the ongoing decline in the country's security situation.
