OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — The Burkinabè military announced on Wednesday that it is actively working to identify the soldiers allegedly involved in the mutilation of a human body, an act depicted in a widely circulated video that has sparked public outrage.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the General Staff of the Armed Forces issued a press release strongly condemning the actions shown in the video. The footage allegedly shows individuals identified as members of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) engaging in the mutilation of a human body. The military leadership has described these actions as “antithetical to military and moral values” and a violation of the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism.

The army’s leadership emphasized its disassociation from these “inhumane practices” which could potentially discredit the efforts of Burkinabè forces in their campaign to reclaim national territories. The statement reassured the public that measures are being taken to accurately identify both the origin of the images and the individuals responsible for the acts depicted.