Residents and survivors of the Karma massacre in Burkina Faso shared their experiences during a press conference north of Ouagadougou, the capital, on April 20th.

“Babies died on the backs of their executed mothers. The killing went on for more than 6 hours before the soldiers left for Dinguiri. Survivors were able to escape after the soldiers left, and some of the injured were taken to the regional hospital in Ouahigouya by fellow survivors.

Sadly, others could not be evacuated and died from their injuries,” said Daouda Belem, the spokesperson for Karma residents.

A total of 147 people were killed in Karma, including 28 women and 45 children aged between 9 days and 14 years. Nine people from nearby villages, all men, were also killed, added the spokesperson.

On Friday, a human rights group reported that the number of victims was more than double the official figure of 60 deaths.

“When I returned home, some men tried to hide indoors, but the soldiers came in and dragged them out.

From inside our houses, we could hear our husbands screaming in pain as they were beaten… before they were executed.

After killing them, the soldiers came back and shot my sick husband right in front of our yard,” recalled Aminata Kindo, a survivor of the massacre.

Burkina Faso’s military is currently fighting Islamist insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, who began their attacks from neighboring Mali in 2015.

The tragic events in Karma highlight the ongoing violence caused by the Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso. Since the conflict began in 2015, thousands of civilians have been killed, and more than two million people have been displaced from their homes. Villages like Karma have become frequent targets in this war, as both armed militants and the military clash in their efforts to control the region.

For many survivors, the trauma is not only in the loss of loved ones but also in the deep scars left by witnessing such brutality. Aminata Kindo and others like her must now live with the memories of that day, while also facing the reality of rebuilding their lives in a country torn by conflict.

Burkina Faso’s government has struggled to regain control of large parts of the country, as Islamist militants continue to carry out attacks on both military and civilian targets. Many regions in the north and east of the country are no longer safe, and local communities are often left to fend for themselves with little protection.

The international community has condemned the violence, with human rights organizations calling for thorough investigations into the Karma massacre and urging greater efforts to protect civilians. However, the road to peace seems uncertain as the insurgency shows no signs of slowing down.

For the residents of Karma and other affected areas, hope now lies in the possibility of future stability and justice for those who lost their lives. But for now, the pain of the massacre is still fresh, and the journey to healing will be long and difficult.