In a recent report released by Human Rights Watch, it was revealed that Burkina Faso's government put civilians at unnecessary risk during a militant attack earlier this year. The attack, carried out by a militant group associated with al-Qaida, resulted in the tragic deaths of over 100 villagers in central Burkina Faso in August. The incident, which took place in the Barsalogho commune located 80 kilometers from the capital Ouagadougou, saw villagers being forced to assist security forces in digging trenches to fortify security outposts and villages.
According to the report, fighters from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group launched a deadly assault on the area, targeting the villagers who were aiding the security forces. The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack and alleged that the villagers were affiliated with militias supporting Burkina Faso.
Human Rights Watch, after analyzing videos and gathering witness testimonies, confirmed that at least 133 individuals, including numerous children, lost their lives in the attack, with over 200 others sustaining injuries. The organization's senior Sahel researcher, Ilaria Allegrozzi, condemned the massacre as another instance of Islamist armed groups committing atrocities against civilians due to the government's actions.
Burkina Faso has been grappling with escalating militant violence, with approximately half of the country falling outside government control. The relentless attacks by militant groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State have resulted in thousands of casualties and the displacement of more than 2 million people.
Despite two coups in 2022, the military junta that assumed power has struggled to curb the violence, even after forging new security alliances with countries like Russia and other conflict-affected nations in the Sahel region. The government's reliance on armed civilian auxiliaries, known as Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), has inadvertently exposed civilians to grave danger, making them targets for militants who view them as VDP supporters or members.
Witnesses cited in the report recounted how Burkina Faso's military coerced male residents into digging trenches near the village without compensation, resorting to threats and physical violence to compel compliance. In response to the allegations, the country's justice minister emphasized that forced labor is illegal in Burkina Faso and disputed claims of military coercion.
