Burkina Faso's Army Implicated in Majority of Civilian Deaths Amid Escalating Conflict, Report Finds

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – Government forces in Burkina Faso are responsible for more than twice the number of civilian deaths than jihadist groups in the nation's ongoing conflict, a comprehensive report released today by Human Rights Watch (HRW) reveals. The 316-page document, titled "'None Can Run Away': War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Burkina Faso by All Sides," paints a grim picture of a deepening humanitarian crisis where both state actors and armed Islamist groups commit atrocities, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The findings call for urgent international attention and accountability for widespread abuses.

The Alarming Toll on Civilians

Between January 2023 and August 2025, over 1,800 civilians were killed across Burkina Faso, according to the HRW report. Of this staggering figure, government forces—comprising the Burkinabè military and allied militias known as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDPs)—are implicated in at least 1,255 deaths across 33 incidents. In contrast, the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) was responsible for at least 582 civilian deaths in 24 attacks during the same period. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, indicated that these reported death tolls are likely a "gross undercount" due to the pervasive underreporting of such incidents. The report suggests that the abuses committed by both sides may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A Pattern of Atrocities Across the Nation

The HRW report meticulously details numerous incidents of civilian massacres attributed to Burkinabè government forces. One of the most egregious events occurred on February 25, 2024, when the military allegedly executed 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in the northern villages of Nondin and Soro. These killings reportedly took place in apparent retaliation for an attack by Islamist fighters. Earlier in 2023, the 3rd Battalion of the Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR) was reportedly responsible for the Karma village massacre on April 20, where 147 people, including 45 children, were killed. Survivors described soldiers rounding up villagers, collecting their identity documents, and then shooting them at point-blank range over several hours.

Another significant incident documented by HRW occurred in December 2023, when military forces and VDPs were accused of killing more than 400 civilians in approximately 16 villages north of Djibo during an operation known as "Operation Tchéfari 2." In March 2025, government forces were again implicated in the deaths of at least 100 civilians, predominantly ethnic Fulani, near the western town of Solenzo. The Fulani, a pastoralist community, have frequently been targeted by government forces who accuse them of collaborating with Muslim militants—an allegation denied by community leaders. Similar accusations of targeting Fulani civilians were made regarding an incident in November 2023 in Bassé, where government-allied militias allegedly killed 13 Fulani civilians, including women and children.

While the report highlights the disproportionate impact of government forces on civilians, it also documents severe atrocities by armed Islamist groups. In August 2024, JNIM fighters killed at least 133 civilians, including dozens of children, in Barsalogho. This attack targeted civilians accused of supporting pro-government militias or those forced to dig defensive trenches by the army.

Context of a Deepening Security Crisis

Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation of 23 million people, has been grappling with a severe security crisis since 2016. The country, part of the Sahel region, is considered the world's deadliest for extremism, experiencing significant violence from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The situation has dramatically deteriorated since the September 2022 military coup, which brought Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power. Despite promises of improved stability, the military junta has been unable to contain the violence, with conservative estimates suggesting that over 60% of the country is now outside government control.

The ongoing conflict has had devastating humanitarian consequences, displacing over 2 million people within Burkina Faso. The government's strategy has included arming tens of thousands of civilians as VDPs to aid in the fight against jihadists. However, the HRW report indicates that these auxiliary forces, alongside the military, have been responsible for widespread abuses.

Erosion of Rights and Calls for Accountability

Amidst the escalating violence, the Burkinabè junta under President Traoré has reportedly implemented a broad crackdown on political opposition, peaceful dissent, and independent media. This has fostered an atmosphere of fear and severely restricted the flow of information about the conflict and its human toll. The government has largely remained silent on the recent HRW report, and past allegations of civilian killings by its forces have often been met with denials or claims that jihadists disguise themselves as soldiers.

Human Rights Watch has urged the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open a preliminary examination into the war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by all parties to the conflict in Burkina Faso since the September 2022 coup. The organization also suggested that President Ibrahim Traoré could face criminal liability for abuses by the military and VDPs under command responsibility. As the conflict rages on, the lack of accountability for these grave violations continues to fuel a cycle of violence and impunity, further endangering the lives of millions caught in the crossfire.