Burkina Faso’s military-led government is facing serious international scrutiny after a new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accused both state forces and armed groups of committing widespread atrocities, leaving more than 1,800 civilians dead in under three years.
The report, which examines violence between January 2023 and August 2025, documents at least 1,837 civilian deaths across 57 incidents. According to HRW, the majority—over 1,200—are attributed to government forces and allied militias, with Islamist groups responsible for the rest.
At the centre of the allegations is President Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022 promising to restore security. HRW says he and several senior commanders could be held responsible under international law for abuses carried out by forces under their control.
The findings paint a grim picture of a country trapped in escalating violence. Civilians, according to survivors, are caught between jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and military operations that increasingly target communities suspected of collaboration.
One of the deadliest incidents highlighted occurred in December 2023 in the northern town of Djibo, where more than 400 civilians were reportedly killed during a military and militia operation. Survivors described scenes of extreme brutality, with families torn apart in minutes.
“All sides are responsible for war crimes,” the report states, citing deliberate attacks on civilians, looting, and forced displacement. Witness accounts suggest that entire communities have been subjected to violence, leaving deep psychological scars.
HRW also raised concerns about the role of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP), a civilian militia supporting the army. The group has been accused of participating in abuses and, in some cases, forcibly recruiting individuals, including critics of the government.
Meanwhile, jihadist group JNIM continues to carry out deadly attacks, enforcing control over territories through violence and intimidation. In one August 2024 incident, militants reportedly killed at least 133 people in less than two hours.
Despite the scale of the crisis, HRW says global attention has remained limited. “The scale of atrocities is mind-boggling,” the organisation noted, criticising what it described as a lack of accountability and restricted reporting within the country.
The rights group is now calling on the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into the alleged crimes, while urging international partners to reconsider cooperation with Burkina Faso’s military authorities.
Since taking power, Traoré has maintained a strong following across parts of Africa, driven by his anti-Western stance and pan-African messaging. However, the ongoing violence—and the allegations now surfacing—raise difficult questions about whether his government is delivering on its core promise: security.
