Human Rights Watch links pro-junta militias to a massacre in western Burkina Faso, where videos depict numerous fatalities. The government currently denies these allegations, claiming the actions were against terrorists while accusing HRW of misinformation. The victims are reportedly ethnic Fulani, and the incident highlights ongoing accountability issues amidst the country’s long-standing conflict.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently asserted that pro-junta militias in Burkina Faso are linked to a massacre in the western region that claimed numerous lives. According to HRW, videos circulating on social media reveal armed individuals dressed in militia uniforms assisting the military against Islamist insurgents. The footage reportedly shows 58 victims, including women and children, and HRW suggested that the true death toll may be higher due to the bodies being piled together.
The government, represented by spokesperson Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo, dismissed the video’s authenticity, labelling it a “disinformation campaign” designed to disrupt social cohesion. Ouedraogo defended the actions of the militias and military, suggesting they had been fighting “terrorists” and had encountered civilians used as human shields. He claimed that approximately 100 “criminals” were neutralized during this operation.
HRW highlighted that the victims are believed to be ethnic Fulani, a group often accused of supporting jihadist factions such as al-Qaeda and ISIS. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at HRW, emphasized the impunity with which pro-government forces operate, underscoring a stark lack of accountability in the region. The incident took place near the city of Solenzo on March 10 and 11, with identifiable patterns in the uniforms of the armed men, indicating their affiliation with the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP).
As Burkina Faso’s armed conflict progresses into its ninth year, both insurgent and aligned militia groups are committing serious crimes against the civilian population, as stated by HRW. The nation, along with Mali and Niger, confronts an escalating jihadist threat that emerged in Mali over a decade ago. Since the military coup in 2022, Burkina Faso’s government has faced scrutiny from human rights organizations regarding security measures that infringe upon civil liberties. Both HRW and Amnesty International have accused the junta of abductions and forced enlistment of dissenters, a claim corroborated by various victims and civil organizations.
In conclusion, the allegations made by Human Rights Watch regarding the involvement of pro-junta militias in a brutal massacre in Burkina Faso have raised serious concerns about accountability and human rights violations. The government’s dismissal of these claims as disinformation, paired with ongoing violence towards civilians, illustrates the complexities and dangers faced by the population during this prolonged conflict. As the international community watches closely, the need for transparency and protection of human rights remains critical.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
