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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Burkina Faso’s military, civilian auxiliaries and jihadist groups of killing more than 1,800 civilians in attacks that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a report released Thursday and reported by France24, HRW said that Burkina Faso’s armed forces, alongside the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP) and jihadist fighters affiliated with al Qaeda, were responsible for widespread abuses between January 2023 and August 2025.
The rights organisation said the violence occurred under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a September 2022 coup but has struggled to contain insurgent violence linked to extremist groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
According to the report, the Burkinabe army, VDP fighters and the al Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) killed at least 1,837 civilians, including dozens of children, across 11 regions in 57 separate incidents.
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HRW said at least 1,255 civilians were killed in 33 incidents carried out by the military and VDP between January 2023 and April 2025, while JNIM was responsible for at least 582 deaths in 24 attacks during the same period.
The watchdog urged the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties to the conflict since September 2022.
“The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court should open a preliminary examination into war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by all parties to the conflict in Burkina Faso,” HRW said.
The report was based on analysis of open-source evidence, including photos, videos and satellite imagery, as well as interviews with more than 450 people living in Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries including Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mali.
HRW highlighted several deadly incidents, including one in December 2023 in which Burkinabe soldiers and VDP fighters allegedly killed hundreds of civilians in at least 16 villages north of Djibo over several days.
“Many survivors described the killings as ‘butchery’ and said they were left with deep psychological wounds,” the report said.
The organisation also accused JNIM fighters of targeting civilians who refused to submit to their authority or were suspected of supporting government forces.
In August 2024, JNIM fighters reportedly attacked the VDP stronghold town of Barsalogho, killing at least 133 people and injuring more than 200 in less than two hours.
HRW further called for investigations into senior government and military officials, including Burkina Faso’s ambassador to Washington and former defence minister Kassoum Coulibaly, Defence Minister Celestin Simpore and army Major General Moussa Diallo.
The rights group also urged investigations into JNIM leadership, including supreme leader Iyad Ag Ghaly, deputy leader Amadou Kouffa, Burkina Faso country leader Jafar Dicko and his brother Ousmane Dicko.
HRW said that as transitional president and army commander, Captain Traoré should also face impartial investigation under the principle of command responsibility for alleged abuses committed by forces under his control.
The organisation further called on Burkina Faso’s international partners and donors to impose sanctions and reconsider cooperation with the country’s military until accountability measures are implemented.
Burkina Faso has faced escalating insecurity over the past decade, with jihadist violence spreading across the Sahel region and displacing millions while leaving thousands dead.
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