International News
Survivors Of Burkina Village Massacre Recount Hours-Long Nightmare
Survivors of a massacre in northern Burkina Faso have described an hours-long ordeal in which men in army uniforms carried out brutal and arbitrary killings, including women who were carrying their babies on their backs.
The bloodbath unfolded on April 20 in the village of Karma, a part of the country that has been badly hit by jihadists, but it was only officially disclosed on Sunday.
Regional prosecutor Lamine Kabore told AFP “about 60 people” were killed by assailants dressed in army uniforms.
But in a statement issued on Tuesday, survivors and local residents said more than 100 died, in a massacre that lasted hours.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, meanwhile said in a press release that according to reports “at least 150 civilians” may have been killed.
The survivors said that at around 7:30 am last Thursday, the village of some 400 people was surrounded by a “large number of men in uniform,” arriving on motorbikes, pickup trucks, armoured vehicles “and a tank”.
Some villagers went out to welcome them, happy to see that “these soldiers” had arrived, but the mood swiftly turned to terror as the killings began, the statement said.
“Several people were shot down where they stood without any form of process… women, children and the elderly,” it said.
People who tried to hide were ordered to come out, as assailants smashed down doors and set fire to storage buildings
“Wounded people who tried to flee were pursued and killed… and some women were executed as they were carrying their babies on their back,” the survivors
The killing lasted until around 2:00 pm when the soldiers moved off in a column towards Dinguiri, a village lying to the north of Karma, they said.
The community said the dead were still lying in the open as of Tuesday. They had tried to go to the village to bury the bodies on Monday morning, but the army had blocked off the road.
The massacre occurred a week after 34 defence volunteers and six soldiers were killed by suspected jihadists at Aorema, a village about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Karma.
Following that attack, Burkina Faso’s military junta declared a “general mobilisation” to give the state “all necessary means” to combat a string of bloody attacks blamed on jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
UN call
Kabore said he was investigating the killings and had given instructions for anyone involved to be detained.
Shamdasani called for a fast and rigorous inquiry.
“This investigation must be prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial and must result in credible prosecutions if such gross violations are to end,” she said.
Karma lies in a gold-rich area that has drawn an influx of illegal miners, close to the border with Mali — the epicentre of an 11-year-old jihadist insurgency that has rocked the fragile Sahel.
Burkina Faso has been hit especially hard, and its poorly-equipped military has been battered by a ruthless, mobile foe.
The violence has left more than 10,000 people dead, according to non-governmental aid groups, and displaced two million people from their homes.
Anger within the military at the mounting toll sparked two coups in 2022, the most recent of which was in September.
The latest strongman, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has declared a goal of recapturing 40 percent of the country’s territory which is controlled by jihadists.
June 5th, Transfermarkt updated. The new market values of Barcelona players. Three players increased and nine decreased, with Raphinha dropping by 10 million to 70 million euros.
Increase (Euros)
Joan-Garcia increased by 5 million to 45 million
Eric-Garcia increased by 5 million to 40 million
Gerard-Martin increased by 10 million to 35 million
Decrease (Euros)
Raphinha decreased by 10 million to 70 million
Kounde decreased by 5 million to 60 million
Balde decreased by 5 million to 50 million
De Jong decreased by 10 million to 35 million
Casado decreased by 2 million to 18 million
Christensen decreased by 1 million to 8 million
Cancelo decreased by 1 million to 8 million
Lewandowski decreased by 1 million to 7 million
Szczesny decreased by 100,000 to 800,000
Unchanged (Euros)
Yamal 200 million
Pedri 150 million
Fermin 100 million
Cubarsi 80 million
Olmo 60 million
Ferran Torres 50 million
Rashford 40 million
Gavi 30 million
Bernal 30 million
Araujo 20 million
Bardghji 15 million
Bitcoin dropped below $60,000 on Friday, its lowest level since October 2024, just before Donald Trump’s election which propelled it to a record high.
The currency fell by about 6 percent around 1615 GMT, to $59.7709, before paring its losses slightly.
The election of Trump, a staunch advocate of cryptocurrencies, to the White House in November 2024 for a second term sparked a wave of enthusiasm in the sector, sending the price of bitcoin soaring to nearly $110,000.
AFP
Man City are considering taking legal action after a Real Madrid presedential candidate said he would sign Erling Haaland, if elected.
What actually happened?
Real presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who faces current president Florentino Perez in Sunday’s vote, claimed on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero on Wednesday night that Haaland had a release clause and wants to move to the Bernabeu. He also held up a Real shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back.
Riquelme, who also promised to sign Haaland’s City team-mate Rodri, said: “If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I’ve signed a guarantee where I’d pay 100 per cent of membership costs for next season.
“Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.”
What was City’s response?
However, Manchester City have moved quickly to refute those claims, saying in a statement that there is “no chance” Haaland will be leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon. The Premier League club also said they are considering legal action over the shirt stunt.
A City spokesperson said in a statement: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue.
“There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.
“We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”
Haaland is under contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2034 and Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alfie Haaland laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could soon be heading to the Spanish capital.
A joint-statement released in the early hours of Thursday morning said: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”
What was Perez’s response?
Meanwhile, current Real president Florentino Perez made his own election pledge on Wednesday night, seemingly confirming Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid as manager, if he wins next Sunday’s presidential election.
Perez posted a video on X in which Mourinho features in a Real shirt saying: “Yes”, while the only other words to accompany it say: “Meanwhile, on TV, they just keep talking and talking and talking. So much history to be made.”
The video was posted in response to Riquelme’s TV apperaance promoting his rival bid.
Perez has made no secret of his intention to name Mourinho as head coach should he win the vote and remain for an eighth term in the role, but his social media post appears to have made it official.
Mourinho is widely expected to agree a three-year-deal to return to the Bernabeu Stadium and replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Benfica have yet to confirm Mourinho’s departure, while speculation has been mounting that Marco Silva is being lined up as his successor after the Portuguese announced he will leave Fulham when his contract expires in June.
Real Madrid’s presidential election on Sunday will be decided by the club’s members. It is the first contested election since 2006 as club members will choose between incumbent Perez, 79, and businessman Riquelme, 37.
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