HRW Links Pro-Junta Militias to Burkina Faso Massacre as Government Denies Claims
Human Rights Watch has linked pro-junta militias to a massacre in Burkina Faso, claiming they were responsible for the deaths of dozens, including women and children, during a recent incident. The government dismissed these allegations as disinformation, stating they were combating terrorists. HRW has flagged the lack of accountability for such militias amid ongoing human rights abuses in the conflict-ridden country.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has implicated pro-junta militias in a horrific massacre in western Burkina Faso, which reportedly resulted in numerous casualties. According to HRW, videos shared on social media depict armed individuals in militia uniforms involved in this tragic incident. The videos suggest that 58 individuals, including women and children, are seen dead or severely injured, with estimates indicating the true number may be even higher due to bodies being stacked together.
Following the reports, government spokesperson Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo dismissed the videos as part of a “disinformation campaign” intended to disrupt social cohesion. He asserted that the militias, allied with the army, were engaged in combat against “terrorists” and claimed to have neutralized approximately 100 “criminals,” including those utilizing non-combatants as human shields.
HRW identified the victims as predominantly ethnic Fulani, who have been targeted by authorities for alleged affiliations with groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher at HRW, emphasized the alarming lack of accountability for pro-government militias, as the conflict in Burkina Faso persists into its ninth year. The violence has escalated despite fervent security efforts.
The incident is reported to have occurred on March 10 and 11, in the vicinity of Solenzo, where identifiable uniforms of the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP) were worn by the perpetrators. The broader context includes a jihadist insurgency affecting Burkina Faso and its neighboring nations—Mali and Niger—since its outbreak in Mali over a decade ago. The military junta, which assumed control through a coup in 2022, faces significant scrutiny from human rights organizations for its tactics employed under the guise of national security.
Various rights groups, including HRW and Amnesty International, have documented instances of the junta allegedly kidnapping and forcibly recruiting dissenters, as cited by victims and civil society organizations. Both Burkinabe and Malian forces have been accused of serious violations against civilians believed to be aiding jihadist factions, claims that both armies have categorically denied.
The allegations by Human Rights Watch against pro-junta militias in Burkina Faso highlight a deteriorating security situation marked by violence and human rights abuses. As the military junta faces criticism for its actions during the ongoing jihadist insurgency, the failure to hold militias accountable exacerbates the ongoing conflict and impacts civilian safety. Continued scrutiny from international organizations is essential in addressing the potential for further denial of human rights within the region.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
