Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – More than 1,800 civilians have been killed in Burkina Faso since January 2023, caught in the escalating violence between the country’s military, volunteer forces, and jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, according to a new report released Thursday by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The findings paint a grim picture of a conflict spiraling out of control, despite the efforts of the ruling junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in a September 2022 coup.
The report details a pattern of abuses committed by all sides, with civilians bearing the brunt of the fighting. HRW’s investigation, based on analysis of open-source information – including photos, videos, and satellite imagery – and interviews with over 450 people across Burkina Faso, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Mali, reveals a disturbing trend of targeted killings and indiscriminate attacks. The escalating violence is further destabilizing the Sahel region, already grappling with poverty, climate change, and political instability.
The crisis in Burkina Faso has roots in the spillover of conflict from neighboring Mali in 2015. Armed groups exploited existing grievances and weak governance, rapidly gaining territory and influence. The situation has worsened significantly in recent years, with attacks becoming more frequent and deadly. The country’s security forces, often overwhelmed and under-equipped, have increasingly relied on the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), a civilian auxiliary force, to bolster their ranks. This reliance, however, has also contributed to the rising civilian death toll, as detailed in the HRW report.
Civilian Deaths Surge Amidst Escalating Conflict
According to HRW, at least 1,837 civilians were killed in 57 incidents across 11 regions of Burkina Faso between January 2023 and August 2025. The report specifically identifies the Burkinabe army and the VDP as responsible for at least 1,255 civilian deaths in 33 incidents during that period. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, was implicated in at least 582 deaths in 24 attacks. Dozens of children were among those killed.
One of the most harrowing incidents detailed in the report occurred in December 2023, when Burkinabe military forces and VDPs allegedly killed hundreds of civilians in at least 16 villages and hamlets north of Djibo. Survivors described the events as “butchery,” reporting widespread and systematic killings. The HRW report notes that these attacks often targeted individuals suspected of supporting jihadist groups, but also included many innocent civilians.
JNIM has also been accused of deliberately targeting civilians who refuse to comply with their authority or are perceived as collaborators with the government. In August 2024, in Barsalogho, a town considered a VDP stronghold, JNIM fighters reportedly shot dead at least 133 people and injured over 200 in a matter of hours. Human Rights Watch’s full report provides detailed accounts of these and other incidents.
Calls for International Criminal Court Investigation
The HRW report doesn’t stop at documenting the atrocities; it calls for accountability. The organization urges the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open a preliminary examination into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties to the conflict in Burkina Faso since September 2022. The ICC has been investigating alleged crimes in Mali since 2012, and expanding the scope of the investigation to include Burkina Faso could provide a crucial avenue for justice.
Specifically, the report identifies Captain Ibrahim Traore, as transitional President and Army commander, as potentially criminally liable for abuses committed by the Burkinabe military and VDPs under the principle of command responsibility. The report also names six other leaders – including Burkina Faso’s Ambassador to Washington and former Defence Minister Kassoum Coulibaly, current Defence Minister Celestin Simpore, and Army major general Moussa Diallo – as individuals who should be investigated for their roles in the alleged abuses.
The call for accountability extends to the leadership of JNIM, including supreme leader Iyad Ag Ghaly, second-in-command Amadou Kouffa, and Burkina’s JNIM country leader Jafar Dicko, along with his brother Ousmane Dicko. HRW argues that these individuals should also be investigated for criminal liability for the abuses perpetrated by their forces.
Impact on Regional Stability and Humanitarian Crisis
The escalating violence in Burkina Faso is not only a humanitarian disaster but also a significant threat to regional stability. The country shares borders with Mali, Niger, Benin, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, and the conflict is increasingly spilling over into neighboring states. The displacement of populations, the disruption of trade routes, and the rise of armed groups are all contributing to a growing sense of insecurity across the Sahel.
The United Nations estimates that over 2 million people have been internally displaced in Burkina Faso due to the conflict. The UNHCR is working to provide assistance to displaced populations, but the scale of the crisis is overwhelming. Access to food, water, and healthcare is limited, and the risk of disease outbreaks is high.
HRW also calls on Burkina Faso’s international partners and donors to reconsider their cooperation with the country’s army and to impose sanctions if necessary. The organization argues that continued support for the military without addressing the issue of accountability could inadvertently contribute to further abuses.
The situation in Burkina Faso remains deeply precarious. While the junta has vowed to restore security, the HRW report underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the protection of civilians, accountability for abuses, and a genuine commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict. The next key development will be the response of the ICC to HRW’s call for a preliminary examination, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for the pursuit of justice in Burkina Faso.
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