HRW Accuses Burkina Faso Forces and Militias of Mass Civilian Killings and Ethnic Targeting
Story: written by Joseph April 2,2026
A damning report by Human Rights Watch has accused security forces in Burkina Faso and their allied militias of carrying out widespread abuses against civilians, including acts that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The report, titled “None Can Run Away,” is based on interviews with more than 450 individuals across several West African countries, alongside analysis of satellite imagery, videos, and official records. Investigators documented at least 57 incidents involving government troops, pro-government militias known as Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDPs), and the armed group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin.
According to the findings, all parties in the conflict have been implicated in serious violations, including killings of civilians, destruction of property, looting, and forced displacement. However, the report states that government forces were responsible for the majority of civilian deaths, with over 1,200 out of 1,837 recorded killings between January 2023 and August 2025 attributed to them.
The watchdog also pointed to possible accountability for senior officials, including President Ibrahim Traoré, urging investigations into military leadership over alleged involvement in the abuses.
One of the most shocking incidents cited occurred in December 2023, when more than 400 civilians were reportedly killed in multiple villages near Djibo in northern Burkina Faso during operations involving the military and allied militias.
The report further alleges that members of the Fulani ethnic group have been specifically targeted, with entire communities displaced amid accusations of links to armed groups—raising concerns of ethnic cleansing.
Testimonies gathered describe harrowing scenes of violence. Survivors recounted executions, including victims found bound and blindfolded, as well as mass shootings carried out in rural communities.
Armed groups have also been blamed for deadly attacks. In August 2024, fighters linked to JNIM reportedly killed over 130 civilians, including children, in the town of Barsalogho, with witnesses describing indiscriminate gunfire and widespread devastation.
Human Rights Watch warned that the scale of violence in Burkina Faso remains largely overlooked globally, calling for urgent international attention and accountability for all perpetrators involved in the conflict.
