Faith Nyasuguta
In a disturbing revelation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that Burkina Faso’s military and allied pro-government militias are responsible for the killing of at least 100 civilians, predominantly from the Fulani ethnic group, in a series of attacks near the western town of Solenzo between late February and early April 2025.
HRW indicates that eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media depict harrowing scenes of violence. The perpetrators, identified as members of the Burkina Faso special forces and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), targeted Fulani communities, whom the government has long accused of harboring Islamist militants.
One such video showed armed men in military attire standing over dozens of bodies, some of which appear to be women and children. In another, a wounded woman is seen clutching her toddler amidst the carnage, pleading for help. These graphic images have sparked outrage and concern over the escalating ethnic tensions and human rights abuses in the region.
The attacks are said to have began on February 27 and continued until April 2, involving hundreds of government troops and the use of drones. Survivors recounted being shot at indiscriminately, with many unable to escape due to the suddenness and intensity of the assaults. A 44-year-old Fulani herder from Solenzo described the scene: “The VDPs shot at us like animals, while drones were flying over our heads. Many women and children died because they could not run.”
Following the massacre, jihadist group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) reportedly carried out reprisal attacks against residents suspected of collaborating with the military, further exacerbating the cycle of violence.
The Burkinabe government has denied involvement in the killings, condemning the dissemination of “images inducing hate and community violence” and labeling the reports as “fake information aimed at undermining social cohesion.” However, HRW insists that the evidence points to the military’s direct involvement and calls for an impartial investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation of approximately 23 million people, has been grappling with a security crisis fueled by extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Since the military junta seized power in 2022, the situation has deteriorated, with more than 60% of the country reportedly outside government control, over 2.1 million people displaced, and nearly 6.5 million in need of humanitarian aid.
Analysts argue that the junta’s strategy of mass recruitment of civilians into poorly trained militia units has intensified ethnic tensions and led to increased human rights violations. The lack of accountability and suppression of dissenting voices have further compounded the crisis, making it challenging to obtain accurate information about the situation on the ground.
International organizations and human rights groups are calling on the Burkinabe government to conduct thorough investigations into the alleged massacres and to implement measures to protect civilians, uphold the rule of law, and restore stability in the region. The international community is also called upon to support efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and providing humanitarian assistance to those affected.
As the situation unfolds, the need for transparency, accountability, and concerted action becomes increasingly urgent to prevent further atrocities and to pave the way for lasting peace in Burkina Faso.
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