Highlights: Six ministers spoke on Wednesday afternoon to selected members of the political class and civil society. A killing blamed by Amnesty International on the army, which the authorities deny. Survivors who said it was men wearing Burkina Faso's army uniforms who carried out the attack. "Terrorist groups use treacherous methods, that is, dressing in military uniform like the Defense and Security Forces to carry out their attacks," Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly said. "The responsibility of the army is once again proven in this attack and killings that deliberately targeted civilians," Amnesty said.

Six ministers spoke on Wednesday afternoon to selected members of the political class and civil society. The opportunity for the authorities to take stock of the situation...

Burkina Faso: Government communicates after Karma massacre

Karma massacre: The Burkinabe government had to communicate about the massacre committed on April 20 in the village of Karma. A killing blamed by Amnesty International on the army, which the authorities deny. AFP - ISSOUF SANOGO

Text by: RFI Follow

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Six ministers spoke on Wednesday afternoon to selected members of the political class and civil society. The opportunity for the authorities to take stock of the security situation and to give a new assessment of the massacre perpetrated on April 20 in this village in the Northern region. A killing blamed by Amnesty International on the army, which the authorities do not acknowledge.

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Faced with the emotion provoked by the attack on Karma, the authorities have no choice but to communicate, it is the president of the transition, Ibrahim Traoré, who is at the origin of this transparency operation.

At the rostrum, it was one of his relatives, Colonel François Yaméogo, who took stock of this sensitive issue. "Substantial resources are made available to the Ouahigouya prosecutor's office for significant progress in this shocking case," said the director of military justice, who also announced a new assessment.

Until Wednesday, authorities were talking about 90 dead. François Yaméogo said 136 bodies were buried.

Regarding the investigation, 12 people were interviewed, including survivors. Survivors who said it was men wearing Burkina Faso's army uniforms who carried out the attack.

Without mentioning Karma, Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly said: "Terrorist groups use treacherous methods, that is, dressing in military uniform like the Defense and Security Forces to carry out their attacks."

The Karma massacre is yet another example of violence against civilians in the conflict in Burkina Faso.

The responsibility of the army is once again proven in this attack and killings that deliberately targeted civilians.

Narrative.

— Amnesty International France (@amnestyfrance) May 3, 2023

After Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch has just published its report on the attack in Karma entitled: "The army would be involved in the massacre of 156 civilians" and calls on the Burkinabe authorities to work with the African Union and the UN to ensure that the investigation opened is credible and transparent.

#BurkinaFaso NEW @hrw report: #BurkinaFaso authorities should ensure an independent inquiry into the summary execution of at least 156 civilians by alleged military forces on April 20, 2023, in the village of Karma.https://t.co/ZA5VtQE3sr

— Carine Kaneza Nantulya (@CarineNantulya) May 4, 2023 ► Read also: In Burkina Faso, the authorities, ECOWAS and a collective each condemn the killing of Karma

Burkina Faso: Government communicates after Karma massacre

Burkina Faso: Government communicates after Karma massacre

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