Escalating Violence: Jihadist Retaliation Threatens Civilians in Burkina Faso
By Matthew Eloyi
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised alarm over a surge in jihadist attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso, as insurgent groups target those they accuse of aiding government forces or refusing to join their ranks.
According to HRW, these assaults have escalated in recent months, leading to widespread fear and devastation across several communities.
The West African nation, currently led by a military junta, has been fighting Islamist insurgents for nearly a decade.
Groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State infiltrated Burkina Faso from Mali, pushing the country into deeper conflict.
The junta’s leader, Ibrahim Traore, has called for civilian participation in the fight, enlisting thousands of volunteer army auxiliaries known as VDPs and requiring civilians to dig defensive trenches.
However, HRW’s report documented at least 128 civilian deaths in seven jihadist attacks between February and June. Villages, displaced persons camps, and a Catholic church were among the targets.
The al Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for six of the attacks, citing civilian collaboration with the military as their motivation.
“We are between a rock and a hard place,’’ a 56-year-old villager told HRW, expressing the dilemma faced by many in the country.
Some villagers have been killed after being forced to return to areas previously evacuated due to jihadist threats, particularly those who joined the VDPs.
A massacre in February, claimed by ISIS-affiliated Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), was reportedly retaliation against Christians who refused to renounce their faith, witnesses revealed.
The junta has faced criticism for its handling of the conflict, with reports of summary executions of civilians suspected of aiding jihadists.
Despite this, the government rejected HRW’s claims, insisting that all human rights violations are being investigated and displaced people have returned voluntarily to secure areas.
Burkina Faso’s security situation continues to deteriorate under Traore’s leadership, despite his promises to improve the situation after seizing power in 2022.