Report Details Civilian Deaths Since Military Takeover
More than 1,800 civilians have been killed in Burkina Faso since Ibrahim Traoré assumed power three years ago, in incidents characterized as "war crimes and crimes against humanity," according to a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
HRW documents approximately 1,837 civilian deaths, including numerous children, occurring in 57 separate incidents between January 2023 and August 2025.
The report attributes the majority of these killings—1,255 deaths—to the military and allied militias, with the remaining casualties blamed on Islamist militant groups.
HRW asserts that President Traoré and six senior military commanders "may be liable as a matter of command responsibility for grave abuses and should be investigated." The report also identifies five jihadist leaders who may bear culpability.
The Burkinabé government has yet to respond to the report but has previously denied allegations that its forces have targeted civilians.
One justification cited by the military for the coup was to confront jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, which have waged an insurgency in Burkina Faso and neighboring countries for over a decade and currently control large portions of the country.
Methodology and Findings
The report is based on an analysis of open-source data, including photographs, videos, satellite imagery, and interviews with witnesses and survivors.
It states,
"All sides are responsible for the war crimes of willful killing, attacks on civilians and civilian objects, pillage and looting, and forced displacement."
The report accuses the junta of committing "horrific abuses," failing to hold perpetrators accountable, and obstructing reporting efforts to conceal the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
Philippe Bolopion, HRW's executive director, commented,
"The scale of atrocities taking place in Burkina Faso is mind-boggling, as is the lack of global attention to this crisis."
Deadliest Incidents and Survivor Accounts
The report highlights one of the deadliest incidents in December 2023, when the military and allied militias reportedly killed more than 400 civilians in the northern town of Djibo.
A 35-year-old woman recounted to HRW that her two daughters died instantly during the attack, and that she and her nine-month-old son were wounded by gunfire.
She recalled a militia member saying,
"Make sure no-one is breathing before heading out."
Survivors described the killings as brutal and reported enduring profound psychological trauma.
The report notes,
"Many survivors described the killings as 'butchery' and said they were left with deep psychological wounds."
Context of the Conflict and Civilian Impact
Since the military takeover, authorities have been accused of conducting brutal campaigns increasingly targeting civilians in retaliation for attacks by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), the largest jihadist group in Burkina Faso.
Civilians interviewed by HRW expressed feeling "caught between a rock and a hard place," facing threats of death from JNIM while also being targeted by government forces.
The report states that JNIM has employed widespread threats and violence to dominate and punish communities, targeting civilians who refuse to submit to its authority and accusing them of supporting the government.
In August 2024, JNIM attackers reportedly "shot dead at least 133 people and injured more than 200 in fewer than two hours," according to HRW.
Calls for International Action
HRW is urging the International Criminal Court to initiate a preliminary investigation into alleged crimes committed by all parties since September 2022.
The organization has also called on Burkina Faso's international partners and donors to impose sanctions and to cease cooperation with the country's military forces.
Political Background and Regional Dynamics
Traoré seized power in September 2022 after overthrowing Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had been in power for only nine months.
Despite his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old Traoré has garnered significant support across Africa for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.
Burkina Faso, along with neighboring Mali and Niger—also under military rule—has distanced itself from cooperation with Western countries, particularly France, in combating Islamist groups. Instead, all three nations have sought military assistance from Russia, although violence persists unabated.
Additional Information
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