At least 60 civilians were killed in Burkina Faso last year in military drone strikes, watchdog says

By CHINEDU ASADU
Associated Press

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Human Rights Watch says Burkina Faso’s security forces killed at least 60 civilians in three different drone strikes last year, attacks that may amount to war crimes. The West African nation’s government claimed they targeted extremists. HRW’s report released on Thursday says the strikes were “in violation of the laws of war” and showed “little or no concern” for civilians. Such allegations against the authorities in Burkina Faso are not new. Jihadi fighters and rebel groups have been operating in many remote communities. The New York-based watchdog said last year that it found the security forces were carrying out extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and torture in conflict-hit communities in Burkina Faso.