A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) reveals that over 1,800 civilians have been killed in Burkina Faso since President Ibrahim Traoré seized power three years ago.
The report attributes most of the killings to the military and allied militias, with the rest blamed on Islamist militants.
The HRW report, based on analysis of open-source information and interviews with witnesses, accuses the junta of committing “horrific abuses” and failing to hold perpetrators accountable.
The report cites one of the deadliest incidents in December 2023, where the military and allied militias killed over 400 civilians in the northern town of Djibo.
The international community is urged to take action, with HRW calling for the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary investigation and for sanctions to be imposed on the Burkinabé authorities.
