Human Rights Watch Reports War Crimes in Burkina Faso

Human Rights Watch has released a report detailing serious human rights abuses against civilians in Burkina Faso by the Burkinabè military, allied militias, and the Islamist armed group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) since 2022. The report documents 57 incidents resulting in over 1,800 civilian deaths across 11 regions between January 2023 and August 2025.

The Burkinabè military and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) have been implicated in grave crimes, including the killing and forced displacement of civilians, particularly from the Fulani ethnic group, whom they accuse of supporting insurgents. In one instance, in November 2023, VDPs killed 13 Fulani civilians, including six women and four children, in a settlement near Bassé village in the Hauts-Bassins region.

JNIM has targeted civilians to establish territorial control, using coercion and violence to oppress populations and forcibly displacing communities accused of supporting government forces. The group has also laid siege to towns and villages, causing starvation and illness among residents.

These abuses have led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 2.3 million people, approximately 10% of Burkina Faso's population. Human Rights Watch has identified key military and JNIM leaders who may bear command responsibility for these abuses and recommends they be investigated and prosecuted as appropriate.

The report emphasizes the need for the Burkinabè authorities and the international community to acknowledge the harm suffered by civilians, ensure justice and accountability for those responsible, and provide redress for victims. Despite Burkina Faso's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a member, allowing for potential investigations into these abuses.

Human Rights Watch underscores the importance of documenting and preserving evidence to support future accountability efforts, as the conflict in Burkina Faso has become one of the world's most severe human rights crises.