The Burkina Faso government has rejected a report by Human Rights Watch alleging that more than 1,800 civilians have been killed in acts amounting to ‘crimes against humanity’ since Ibrahim Traoré assumed power in a coup three years ago.
The report attributes the majority of the killings to the military and allied militias, with the remainder blamed on Islamist militants operating in the country. It draws on open-source information, including videos and satellite imagery, as well as interviews with witnesses and survivors.
One of the deadliest incidents highlighted in the report occurred in December 2023 in the town of Djibo, where the military and allied militias are reported to have killed more than 400 civilians. Survivors described the killings as brutal and reported experiencing lasting psychological trauma.
The Burkina Faso government, however, denounced the findings as false, describing them as “conjecture and serious unfounded claims.” Officials argued that similar accusations have been repeatedly made against the state, despite a lack of verifiable evidence.
Burkina Faso is among several West African countries that have experienced coups in recent years, joining Guinea and Gabon in political instability.
