Burkina Faso's Drone Strikes Killed 60 Civilians, May Constitute War Crimes: HRW

The strikes targeted crowds at a market and a funeral, showing 'little or no concern' for civilians, according to the Human Rights Watch report.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that Burkina Faso's security forces killed at least 60 civilians in three separate drone strikes between August and November 2023, which the government claimed were targeting extremists.
The strikes, which HRW suggests may constitute war crimes, targeted crowds at a market and a funeral, and showed 'little or no concern' for civilians.
HRW's report is based on interviews with at least 23 witnesses and non-government organizations, and the strikes were reported by state-owned media as successful operations that killed Islamic extremists, without mentioning any civilian casualties.
The Burkina Faso military used Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones, which were acquired in 2022, for the attacks.
HRW calls for the Burkina Faso government to urgently and impartially investigate these apparent war crimes, hold those responsible to account, and provide adequate support for the victims and their families.