OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — At least 30 people from the Peul ethnic group were killed in clashes over land rights at the border between Burkina Faso and Mali this week, and as many as 1,000 others have fled fearing more violence, according to the governor of Burkina’s northern region.
Reached by telephone, Gov. Boukary Kalil Bara said the clash between the Peul, who are traditionally herders, and the Dogon, who are farmers, broke out Tuesday in the village of Sari, 9 miles acrossthe border in Malian territory. According to national radio, some of the victims were burned alive and their bodies were left in the open air.
Under the administration of Mali’s ousted president - who was himself a Peul - the herders were allowed to cross into Dogon territory on special paths.
The arrangement had been a source of tension because the livestock owned by the Peul often meandered off the path, damaging the crops of the Dogon settlers. The Dogon accused the ex-president of favoring the Peul because of their ethnic link.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 05/25/2012