March Attack in Burkina Faso: Over 100 Civilians Dead

    0
    0

    In a tragic episode near the western town of Solenzo in Burkina Faso, government forces have been accused of killing at least 100 civilians in March, as reported by Human Rights Watch. The incident, described as a massacre, was attributed to Burkina Fasoโ€™s special forces and a pro-government militia known as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland. All victims were from the Fulani ethnic group, who are pastoralists prevalent in the region and have been previously accused by the government of allying with Muslim militants.

    Initial reports indicated a high likelihood of government involvement due to social media videos, which was later substantiated by further evidence gathered by activists and shared by Human Rights Watch. The government of Burkina Faso, however, vehemently denied these allegations, criticizing the spread of misinformation and images on social media, which they claimed incited hatred and threatened national unity.

    โ€œThe graphic content of the videos showing the brutality from militias aligned with the government has created a huge outcry throughout Africaโ€™s Sahel region,โ€ mentioned Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. She emphasized the necessity for an objective investigation into these killings and demanded accountability for all those implicated. Despite the new reports, Burkina Fasoโ€™s authorities have not yet responded to requests for comments.

    Burkina Faso, home to around 23 million people, has become emblematic of the security challenges plaguing the Sahel region, which is burdened by violence from extremist groups with ties to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. With a military junta assuming power in 2022, the anticipated stability has remained elusive. A significant portion of the countryโ€™s territory is beyond government jurisdiction, displacing over 2.1 million people, and necessitating humanitarian relief for almost 6.5 million individuals.

    According to eyewitnesses, the attack on the Boucle du Mouhoun region, including Solenzo, began in late February and persisted until early April. This offensive involved a large deployment of government troops, aided by drones. โ€œThe pro-government militias fired upon us mercilessly; drones circled ominously overhead. Many women and children fell victim because they couldnโ€™t escape,โ€ recounted a 44-year-old Fulani herder from Solenzo.

    After the assault, numerous Fulani villagers sought refuge in Mali. โ€œCurrently, there are no Fulani left in the province; they have either fled, been killed, or are held captive,โ€ reported a 53-year-old resident of Solenzo, noting that other ethnic groups remain. In the wake of government withdrawals, jihadists from a faction known as JNIM reasserted presence and executed revenge attacks on those they believed collaborated with the military.

    During these retaliatory measures, a 60-year-old witness from Tiao village, not far from Solenzo, recounted the grim scene of mass executions, noting an estimate of 70 bodies. Analysts have criticized the juntaโ€™s aggressive military recruitment strategy, which includes poorly trained civilian militias, for exacerbating ethnic tensions. The opacity of the countryโ€™s circumstances is compounded by stringent censorship enforced by the military government, with substantial risks for those who speak out.