Burkina Faso’s army admits ‘unintentionally’ killing civilians in airstrikes
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – The Burkinabe army acknowledged on Wednesday that several civilians were killed in airstrikes, which it called “unfortunate and unintentional,” and said the collateral damage occurred during military operations against suspected terrorist groups in the country’s east on Monday.
The Burkina Faso Armed Forces said in a statement that targeted operations against terrorist groups responsible for many attacks were carried out in Djamanga, Djabiga, Mandeni, Bounou, Obiagou, and Pognoa-Sankoado in the eastern region on Monday.
“During these operations, which made it possible to neutralize several dozen terrorists, the strikes unfortunately inadvertently caused collateral victims. The civilians who were unfortunately fatally hit by projectiles were in the vicinity of terrorist targets on the Kompienga-Pognoa axis,” it said.
While deploring the tragedy, the army of the West African country did not disclose how many civilians were killed.
An investigation was immediately launched to determine those responsible for the incident, it said.
Burkina Faso has been battling an insurgency that has spread from neighboring Mali over the past decade.
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