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Euronews
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Burkina Faso forces killed more than 130 civilians, HRW says
Burkina Faso's army directed and participated in a massacre by pro-government militias of at least 130 civilians in March around the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said. The findings, published in a new report on Monday, were based on witness testimony and an analysis of footage shared online. The attack was directed against the Fulani ethnic group, who have been displaced en masse in recent months from Banwa province. After the March massacre, the Al Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) retaliated with a series of attacks in Sourou, a province to the north. The Islamist armed group targeted villages believed to have helped the army, killing at least 100 civilians, according to HRW. 'The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa's Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,' said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW. 'Further research uncovered that Burkina Faso's military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group.' Allegrozzi called on the government to 'impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible'. HRW interviewed dozens of witnesses to the attacks, and viewed videos showing abuses by pro-government volunteers (VDPs) against Fulani civilians near Solenzo, as well as analysing information posted on social media. 'Thousands of Fulani families from over 20 villages set out for [neighbouring] Mali in search of protection,' said a Fulani herder, 44, from Solenzo, whose eight family members were killed in the attacks. 'However, we couldn't reach Mali without crossing villages [that were] occupied by the VDPs and the army. The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run.' Witnesses described the direct participation of the country's army alongside VDPs in the operation, including the use of military helicopters. They also mentioned the targeting of Fulani civilians. A 50-year-old woman from Solenzo told HRW: 'I heard the VDPs saying in the Djoula language: 'Nobody will escape! Look for the Fulani everywhere. We are going to kill all Fulani.'' Such testimony was said to corroborate statements by VDP members recorded in videos reviewed by the organisation. In a statement published on 15 March, a government spokesperson said that on 10 March, militia and security forces fought off a 'terrorist' attack and killed about 100 assailants before chasing others through the bush. The spokesperson said the security forces and VDPs 'took over the forest to dismantle the terrorist base.' They found women, children, and older people 'whom the terrorists tried to use as human shields, as well as a large herd of stolen cattle and goats,' and took them to safety. However, witnesses contradicted the government's account, saying no fighting took place between government forces and the Islamist fighters near Solenzo, and that the military operation appeared to have been carefully planned. Islamist armed groups have focused on recruiting from the Fulani community, and the government has long conflated the two. Fulani witnesses said the recent military operation had displaced most Fulani people from Banwa province. Hundreds were said to have fled across the border into neighbouring Mali. 'Today, in the whole province, there are no more Fulani – they all fled or were killed or taken hostage,' a 53-year-old man from Solenzo told HRW. Following the attacks near Solenzo, the military proceeded toward Sourou, which has been under the control of the JNIM for seven years. Villagers said the army remained in the village for about two days. The JNIM subsequently returned and targeted men it believed had collaborated with the army and its backers. 'All the men had been executed in front of the health centre,' said a 60-year-old woman. 'I counted up to 70 bodies.' Allegrozzi said that the 'scope of the atrocities" by government forces, militias and Islamist armed groups in western Burkina Faso "remain grossly overlooked". She called on the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council to urgently place Burkina Faso "high on their agendas and act to protect civilians still at grave risk". The Sahel region of Africa now accounts for "over half of all terrorism-related deaths", according to a report by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) published in March. Burkina Faso's military junta seized power in 2022, after the country's government struggled to control Islamist insurgencies. Burkina Faso authorities did not immediately reply a request for comment.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Burkina Faso forces killed at least 100 civilians in a March attack, Human Rights Watch says
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — At least 100 civilians were killed by Burkina Faso government forces in March near the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch said Monday. According to victim testimony and videos shared on social media gathered by the rights group, the attackers were Burkina Faso special forces and members of a pro-government militia, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. The victims were all ethnic Fulani, a pastoralist community that is widespread across the region, which the government has long accused of supporting Muslim militants. An earlier report from Human Rights Watch stated that the government's involvement was likely, because of video evidence on social media, although the findings were not definitive. The government issued a sharp denial when first reports surfaced, saying in a statement it 'condemned the propagation, on social media, of images inducing hate and community violence, and fake information aimed at undermining social cohesion' in the country. 'The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa's Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,' said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. 'Further research uncovered that Burkina Faso's military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group. The government needs to impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible.' Burkina Faso authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the group's new report. The landlocked nation of 23 million people has symbolized the security crisis in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara in recent years. It has been shaken by violence from extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, and the governments fighting them. The military junta , which took power in 2022, failed to provide the stability it promised. According to conservative estimates, more than 60% of the country is now outside of government control, more than 2.1 million people have lost their homes and almost 6.5 million need humanitarian aid to survive. The attack in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region, including Solenzo and other towns, began on Feb. 27 and lasted until April 2, involving hundreds of government troops and drones, according to eyewitnesses quoted in the report. 'The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run,' said a Fulani herder, 44, from Solenzo, referring to the pro-government militias. After the attack, hundreds of Fulani residents fled across the border into neighboring Mali, the report said. 'Today, in the whole province, there are no more Fulani — they all fled or were killed or taken hostage,' said a 53-year-old man from Solenzo. 'But the other (ethnic) communities remain.' After the government forces left, the report said that jihadist fighters from a group known as JNIM reentered the towns and carried out reprisal killings against residents, targeting the men whom it considered to be military collaborators. 'All the men had been executed in front of the health center,' said a 60-year-old woman who witnessed JNIM abuses in Tiao village, a town to the northeast of Solenzo on April 5. 'I counted up to 70 bodies.' According to analysts, the junta's strategy of military escalation, including mass recruitment of civilians for poorly trained militia units, has exacerbated tensions between ethnic groups. It it impossible to get an accurate picture of the situation in the country since the military leadership has installed a system of de facto censorship, rights groups said, and those daring to speak up can be openly abducted, imprisoned or forcefully drafted into the army.
The Hill
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Burkina Faso forces killed at least 100 civilians in a March attack, Human Rights Watch says
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — At least 100 civilians were killed by Burkina Faso government forces in March near the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch said Monday. According to victim testimony and videos shared on social media gathered by the rights group, the attackers were Burkina Faso special forces and members of a pro-government militia, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. The victims were all ethnic Fulani, a pastoralist community that is widespread across the region, which the government has long accused of supporting Muslim militants. An earlier report from Human Rights Watch stated that the government's involvement was likely, because of video evidence on social media, although the findings were not definitive. The government issued a sharp denial when first reports surfaced, saying in a statement it 'condemned the propagation, on social media, of images inducing hate and community violence, and fake information aimed at undermining social cohesion' in the country. 'The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa's Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,' said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. 'Further research uncovered that Burkina Faso's military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group. The government needs to impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible.' Burkina Faso authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the group's new report. The landlocked nation of 23 million people has symbolized the security crisis in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara in recent years. It has been shaken by violence from extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, and the governments fighting them. The military junta, which took power in 2022, failed to provide the stability it promised. According to conservative estimates, more than 60% of the country is now outside of government control, more than 2.1 million people have lost their homes and almost 6.5 million need humanitarian aid to survive. The attack in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region, including Solenzo and other towns, began on Feb. 27 and lasted until April 2, involving hundreds of government troops and drones, according to eyewitnesses quoted in the report. 'The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run,' said a Fulani herder, 44, from Solenzo, referring to the pro-government militias. After the attack, hundreds of Fulani residents fled across the border into neighboring Mali, the report said. 'Today, in the whole province, there are no more Fulani — they all fled or were killed or taken hostage,' said a 53-year-old man from Solenzo. 'But the other (ethnic) communities remain.' After the government forces left, the report said that jihadist fighters from a group known as JNIM reentered the towns and carried out reprisal killings against residents, targeting the men whom it considered to be military collaborators. 'All the men had been executed in front of the health center,' said a 60-year-old woman who witnessed JNIM abuses in Tiao village, a town to the northeast of Solenzo on April 5. 'I counted up to 70 bodies.' According to analysts, the junta's strategy of military escalation, including mass recruitment of civilians for poorly trained militia units, has exacerbated tensions between ethnic groups. It it impossible to get an accurate picture of the situation in the country since the military leadership has installed a system of de facto censorship, rights groups said, and those daring to speak up can be openly abducted, imprisoned or forcefully drafted into the army.
