Burkina: the UN calls for an investigation into possible abuses in the North

The Burkinabè army has been accused of abuses on several occasions.

Here, soldiers in a vehicle in Ouagadougou, July 7, 2022. © Olympia De Maismont / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In Burkina Faso, " 

it is crucial that an investigation be carried out quickly

 " into the allegations of military abuses, in the north of the country, Seif Magango, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner, told RFI on Monday November 14. Human Rights (OHCHR).

On Saturday, November 12, the Burkinabè government published a press release announcing the opening of an investigation on this subject.

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The Burkinabè Defense and Security Forces (FDS) as well as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) are believed to have killed many civilians, in several villages

near Djibo

, in the Sahel region, in the north from the country.

It was a note from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that alerted the Burkinabè government: it mentions " 

shell fire on the villages of Holdé, Yaté, Ména and Dabere-Pogowel

 " .

, carried out by the 14th inter-army regiment of Djibo on November 9.

Without taking stock, the OHCHR believes that women and children are among the victims: " 

We have received serious accusations in this regard

 ", explains Seif Magango.

Joined by RFI, this Monday, November 14, sources mention the death of about fifty civilians, the wounded were also transferred to Ouahigouya.

These are allegations " 

which do not surprise us

 ", explains the government spokesperson in his press release, for whom terrorists are " 

customary of manipulation and misinformation

 ", especially since

"

offensive actions are committed in the Sahel region

 ”.

This is not the first time that the Burkinabè FDS and VDP

have been suspected of abuses

.

In April, the Ministry of Defense announced the opening of an investigation after similar accusations in Solhan, in the north of the country.

►Also read: Burkina: more than a hundred civilians are said to have been killed during abuses by the armed forces

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  • Burkina Faso

  • Human rights

  • UN