Nearly 100 Civilians Massacred in Burkina Faso Village, EU and US Call for Investigation

Burkina Faso, grappling with Islamist insurgencies, faces accusations of human rights abuses under current military rule

Nearly 100 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly massacred in the village of Zaongo in Burkina Faso.
The European Union and the US government have called on the transitional authorities in Burkina Faso to investigate the massacre and determine who is responsible.
Burkina Faso, under military rule since a coup in 2022, has been struggling with Islamist insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State, leading to multiple civilian casualties.
The current junta, led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore, has been accused of committing abuses against civilians and cracking down on civil liberties in the name of security.
The government has enlisted volunteer fighters to combat the jihadi threat, but civilians report that these volunteers often indiscriminately kill people suspected of collaborating with the jihadis.