At least 130 civilians were killed in March during a military operation conducted by government forces and allied militias in Burkina Faso.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has disclosed that the killings occurred near the western town of Solenzo, with many of the victims being ethnic Fulanis who were allegedly targeted by Burkinabè special forces.
HRW described the incident as a “massacre” that led to widespread displacement and civilian casualties among the Fulani, a predominantly Muslim pastoralist community often accused by the government of supporting Islamist militants – a claim denied by community leaders.
The attacks occurred in a region where approximately 40% of the country is under the control of armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State operating in the Sahel.
Despite military leadership pledging to curb insurgent activities, violence continues to escalate, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. Before the HRW report was released, there were unverified reports of further militant attacks over the weekend, leading to additional civilian and military casualties.
HRW based its findings on interviews with witnesses, militia members, journalists, and civil society actors, as well as video analysis shared on social media. While initial reports in March suggested possible military involvement, HRW now states that its investigations have definitively established that Burkinabè special forces were responsible for the killings.
Additionally, HRW reported that at least 100 civilians were killed in April in retaliatory attacks by jihadist groups against those perceived to be collaborating with the military. The organization emphasized that mass killings by government forces, militias, and Islamist armed groups amount to war crimes and other potential atrocity crimes.
The rights group has called on the Burkinabè government to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities.
The report was released as Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, returned from Moscow after discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on security cooperation in the Sahel. Since assuming power, the Burkinabè junta has distanced itself from its former colonial power, France, opting instead to strengthen military and security ties with Russia.
Source: Africafeeds.com
