Hundreds took to the streets in protest outside the US embassy in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, expressing dissatisfaction with Washington’s reaction to a Human Rights Watch report detailing an army massacre of civilians.
The protest followed Britain and the United States expressing grave concerns over the HRW report, which accused soldiers of killing over 200 people, including children, in revenge attacks on two villages.
Protesters, draped in Russian and Burkinabe flags, marched towards the embassy, chanting anti-imperialist slogans and demanding an end to accusations against the armed forces.
Mahamadou Ouedraogo, spokesman for the “Burkind Faangf meenga (liberation) federation of pan-Africanists,” which organised the demonstration, emphasised the sacrifice of the armed forces in defending the country.
In response to international media airing the accusations, Burkina Faso suspended several news organisations, including the BBC and Voice of America.
The government summoned the charge d’affaires of the US embassy over their reaction to the HRW report, highlighting a growing rift over the handling of the issue.
Amidst an insurgency since 2015, Burkina Faso has faced significant challenges, with thousands killed, millions displaced, and internal discontent leading to two coups in 2022.