Human Rights Watch has linked pro-junta militias to a massacre in Burkina Faso, showing videos of numerous fatalities. The junta has denied these claims, branding them as disinformation, while HRW emphasizes the growing lack of accountability for such actions against civilians. The conflict continues, raising significant humanitarian concerns in the region.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported connections between pro-junta militias and a significant massacre in Burkina Faso, which resulted in numerous fatalities. The organization described the situation as “gruesome” and revealed that social media videos depict armed individuals in militia uniforms. The footage reportedly shows 58 individuals, including women and children, presumed dead, with a possibility of more victims due to the conditions of body accumulation.
Government spokesperson Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo dismissed the video evidence, labeling it as part of a “disinformation campaign” aimed at destabilizing social unity. He asserted that during operations against alleged terrorists, the militias engaged in confrontations where they encountered individuals—women, children, and old persons—used as human shields by the opposition.
According to HRW, the victims appear predominantly to belong to the ethnic Fulani community, often accused by authorities of sympathizing with extremist factions aligned with al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Senior researcher Ilaria Allegrozzi remarked on the lack of accountability for the militias involved, emphasizing the troubling dynamics as conflict in Burkina Faso extends into its ninth year.
This tragic event occurred in the vicinity of Solenzo on March 10 and 11. HRW highlighted that the identifiable uniforms worn by the armed perpetrators correspond to those of the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP). Allegrozzi pointed out the dire ramifications for the civilian population, as security forces continue to engage in significant wrongdoing without the fear of repercussions.
Burkina Faso, alongside its neighboring countries Mali and Niger, is enduring a jihadist insurgency that has been escalating since its emergence in Mali. The country’s military regime, which took control following a coup in 2022, has faced scrutiny from humanitarian organizations due to its national security tactics. Reports from HRW and Amnesty International assert that the junta has been involved in kidnappings and the coercion of dissenters, supported by testimonies from victims and civil society representatives.
Numerous rights organizations, in addition to the United Nations, have condemned both Malian and Burkinabe forces for committing severe violations against civilians presumed to be aiding jihadists. These military bodies have consistently refuted all allegations of misconduct.
The allegations by Human Rights Watch regarding the involvement of pro-junta militias in a brutal massacre in Burkina Faso illustrate a growing concern for humanitarian accountability in the region. The government’s response, branding the evidence as disinformation, contrasts sharply with HRW’s findings, which highlight a distressing ongoing conflict marked by increasing violence against vulnerable populations. This situation underscores the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis as it enters its ninth year with inadequate oversight of military actions.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
