Besikdira Massacre

Besikdira is a village in the Anseba region of Eritrea, close to the town of Keren. The name derives from two Bilen-language words: "beska," referring to a sisal plant used for rope, and "dira," referring to a baobab tree.

During the Eritrean War of Independence, Besikdira was the site of a mass killing of civilians. On November 30, 1970, approximately 122 inhabitants of the village were killed, although other accounts place the death toll as high as 200 civilians. This event is described as the first in a series of massacres carried out during the war of independence.

Subsequent massacres associated with the broader conflict are noted to have taken place in the village of Ona in December 1970, in Hirgigo in 1975, and in She'eb in December 1988.

Besikdira was also notable as the location of the only school within the Sekwina region. The school was built in 1962 by Father Gebrekudos Meskel. Following the war, the primary school was closed for a period of 20 years before being rebuilt by an Italian aid organization in 2004.

The massacre was not adjudicated as a criminal matter. The exact circumstances of the killings, the identity of those responsible, and the precise number of victims remain unresolved.