At least 223 civilians summarily executed by Burkina Faso's army, says Human Rights Watch

Burkina Faso's military has been accused of summarily executing 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in two villages on February 25. The mass killings occurred during a widening military campaign to tackle jihadist violence, which has ravaged the once-peaceful nation. According to Human Rights Watch, soldiers accused residents of aiding Islamist fighters before shooting at them, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 people, including 20 children, in Nondin and 179 people in Soro villages. The international rights group claims that this massacre appears to be part of a widespread military campaign against civilians accused of links to armed groups.