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Many of the victims belonged to the Fulani ethnic group and were reportedly targeted in retaliatory attacks amid ongoing counterinsurgency operations
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Ouagadougou – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an immediate and independent investigation into the massacre of dozens of civilians in the Burkinabé city of Solenzo on March 10 and 11.
In a statement issued Friday, HRW raised concerns over video footage circulating on social media, which allegedly implicates pro-government militias in the killings. The footage has sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability and protection of civilians in a country already grappling with widespread violence and human rights abuses.
Targeted ethnic killings
According to HRW, many of the victims belonged to the Fulani ethnic group and were reportedly targeted in retaliatory attacks amid ongoing counterinsurgency operations. The Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (VDPs), a state-backed militia, has been accused of committing grave human rights violations alongside government security forces. The Fulani community has frequently been stigmatized and accused of having ties to Islamist armed groups, making them vulnerable to such attacks.
“The massacre in Solenzo underscores the escalating violence and impunity in Burkina Faso. Authorities must ensure an impartial investigation and hold those responsible accountable to prevent further atrocities,” HRW’s Africa director stated.
Escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis
Burkina Faso has been locked in a violent insurgency since 2016, with Islamist armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State launching attacks against civilians and state forces. The violence has displaced over 2.3 million people as of August 2024. The country’s ruling military junta, which seized power in a coup in October 2022, has intensified counterinsurgency efforts by mobilizing civilian militias like the VDPs. While these groups were initially meant to bolster national security, their operations have increasingly been linked to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations.
Crackdown on civil liberties
The junta’s approach has also led to a shrinking civic space, with journalists, activists, and opposition figures facing repression under the pretext of national security. The transitional government recently delayed elections that were initially scheduled for July 2024 and has announced plans to extend its rule for five more years, a move widely rejected by opposition groups.
International organizations have repeatedly urged Burkina Faso’s authorities to uphold international human rights standards and ensure accountability for state-affiliated abuses. However, impunity remains widespread, further deepening the country’s humanitarian and security crisis.
As investigations into the Solenzo massacre continue, rights groups are calling for urgent international pressure to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent further targeted violence against civilians.
Torch Media Africa
