A recent massacre in western Burkina Faso has been linked to militias allied with the country’s military junta, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The incident, which took place on March 10 and 11, left at least 58 people dead, including women and children, with the actual number potentially higher due to bodies being piled on top of each other.
The victims appear to be ethnic Fulani, a group accused by authorities of supporting groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
HRW obtained videos showing armed men wearing uniforms of the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP), a militia formed to aid the government’s fight against Islamist groups.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW, condemned the lack of accountability among pro-government militias, emphasizing that security forces and Islamist armed groups are committing serious crimes against civilians without fear of consequence.
The incident highlights the escalating violence in Burkina Faso, which has been embroiled in a jihadist insurgency for nine years.
