Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a stark warning regarding the risks faced by civilians in Burkina Faso, emphasizing the government’s failure to adequately protect its people amidst escalating violence from armed groups. In a report released on Tuesday, HRW detailed a particularly deadly incident in August, where at least 133 individuals were killed during an attack by the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). This attack, which took place in the Barsalogho commune, is one of the deadliest of the year, highlighting the severe security crisis the nation is grappling with.
Witness accounts and HRW’s investigation reveal that villagers were coerced into assisting security forces by digging trenches to fortify their communities against JNIM attacks. Many villagers, fearing for their lives, resisted this forced labor, but reports indicate that the military employed threats and beatings to compel compliance. JNIM later claimed responsibility for the attack, characterizing the villagers as state affiliates. The situation has raised significant concerns about the government’s tactics and its responsibility for putting civilians at unnecessary risk.
HRW has described the massacre in Barsalogho as part of a broader pattern of atrocities committed against civilians in the region. The organization confirmed the details of the attack through video analysis and witness testimony, labeling it an “evident war crime.” HRW’s deputy Africa director, Carine Kaneza Nantulya, criticized the government’s actions, urging authorities to prioritize civilian protection amidst the conflict.
In response, Burkina Faso’s Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala dismissed HRW’s claims, asserting that forced labor is illegal and that the allegations against the military lack substantiation. The ongoing violence, largely attributed to extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS, has led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of over two million people. Despite two coups in 2022 and attempts to forge new security alliances, the military government continues to struggle in its efforts to restore order, further endangering civilians caught in the crossfire.
