Human Rights Watch has implicated pro-junta militias in a massacre in Burkina Faso that left dozens dead, despite the junta’s claims of misinformation. Videos show numerous casualties, primarily from the Fulani ethnic group. The government’s response has been to deny wrongdoing, attributing the violence to combat against terrorists. The Sahel region continues to struggle with ongoing jihadist insurgency amid widespread human rights concerns.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has linked pro-junta militias to a horrific massacre that occurred in western Burkina Faso, resulting in numerous deaths. HRW reported that videos circulating on social media depict armed individuals dressed in militia uniforms aiding the government in combating Islamist militants. The footage shows 58 individuals, including women and children, who appear to be either deceased or critically injured, with the actual death toll potentially being higher due to bodies being stacked in piles.
In response, government spokesperson Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo dismissed the social media images as part of a misinformation campaign designed to disrupt social unity. He asserted that the militias and military were engaged in combatting “terrorists” when they encountered civilians allegedly utilized as human shields. He asserted that the combined forces successfully “neutralized” approximately 100 so-called “criminals.”
According to HRW, the victims seem to belong to the Fulani ethnic group, which authorities have accused of associating with extremist groups tied to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher at HRW, emphasized that the videos reveal the serious accountability issues within these pro-government militias. The reported violence took place near Solenzo on March 10 and 11, with many perpetrators identifiable by their Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP) uniforms.
The ongoing conflict in Burkina Faso, now entering its ninth year, has led to serious human rights abuses by both security forces and allied militias against a weary populace, according to HRW. The Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, continues to grapple with a jihadist uprising that began in Mali thirteen years ago. Burkina Faso’s military-led government, after seizing power in 2022, has drawn criticism from human rights organizations for its national security actions. HRW and Amnesty International have accused the junta of kidnapping and forcibly conscripting dissenters, supported by accounts from victims and civil organizations. Furthermore, the UN and rights groups have consistently pointed fingers at Malian and Burkinabe forces for serious crimes against civilians thought to be aiding jihadists, although both armies have denied such allegations.
The links between pro-junta militias and the recent massacre in Burkina Faso highlight significant concerns regarding human rights violations and accountability within armed forces. The conflicting narratives between the government and rights organizations emphasize the urgency in addressing the ongoing security crisis and its impact on civilians in the Sahel region. As the conflict persists, the international community is called to carefully examine the actions of both state forces and armed groups to ensure humanitarian protections are upheld.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
