Burkina Faso: Army behind most civilian deaths report

"Human Rights Watch's report states that 'these atrocities, including the government's ethnic cleansing of Fulani civilians, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity for which senior leaders on all sides may be liable.'"

"'Burkina Faso's security forces and allied militias appear to be more brutal and violent than militant groups like the local al-Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM),' said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch."

"'The government of Burkina Faso has previously denied allegations of extrajudicial killings, asserting that their forces had only killed terrorists.'"

"'HRW warns that violence at the hands of the government could bolster militant groups and complicate relations between western governments with Burkina Faso.'"

Burkina Faso's security forces and allied militias have been found to be more brutal than militant groups, according to Human Rights Watch. The report indicates that government forces are responsible for over twice as many civilian deaths as jihadist groups. The Fulani ethnic group has been specifically targeted, with allegations of ethnic cleansing amounting to war crimes. The military junta, in power since 2022, has failed to stabilize the country, leading to widespread displacement and humanitarian crises. The government's denial of extrajudicial killings complicates relations with Western nations.

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