Burkina Faso rejects 'baseless accusations' that soldiers massacred 223 villagers

Burkina Faso Rejects Allegations of Soldier Massacre of Villagers The government of Burkina Faso has vehemently rejected accusations made by Human Rights Watch that soldiers massacred 223 villagers, including 56 children, in a village called Soro. The government labeled these accusations as baseless and without any foundation. Human Rights Watch released a report claiming that on November 14, 2019, Burkinabe soldiers stormed the village of Soro and executed 31 men, severely tortured 3 others, and burned down 613 houses. The report also alleged that the soldiers targeted victims based on their ethnicity, ethnicity, or perceived affiliation with armed Islamist groups. In response, Burkina Faso's government spokesperson, Remis Fulgance Dandjinou, dismissed the accusations, stating that they were unfounded and aimed at tarnishing the image of the country's defense and security forces. Dandjinou claimed that these accusations were part of a campaign to undermine the government's efforts in combating terrorism effectively. Burkina Faso has been severely affected by a surge in violence since 2015, when armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda started attacking security forces and civilians. The violence has escalated in recent years, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people and the loss of countless lives. While the government acknowledges that some security forces may have committed abuses during counter-terrorism operations, it insists that these incidents are isolated and not representative of the overall actions of the