Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Wednesday that Islamist groups in Burkina Faso have intensified their attacks on civilians, resulting in a surge of violence and fatalities amid the ongoing conflict between these groups and the Burkinabe government.
According to HRW, over 6,000 deaths as a result of the conflict have been documented in the first eight months of 2024 alone, with approximately 1,000 of those being civilians killed by these militant factions. The rights organization further detailed horrific incidents, including targeted killings and brutal assaults on communities that refuse to collaborate with the insurgents or are perceived as supporting government forces.
HRW further highlighted that since February 2024, at least 128 civilians have been killed across several attacks attributed to groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIL), indicating further that large portions of Burkina Faso are now under the control of jihadist factions, with government forces managing only about half of the territory. According to HRW, this situation has been exacerbated by a lack of effective military strategy and resources, as evidenced by testimonies from local residents who describe armed forces as ill-equipped to confront the insurgents.
Burkina Faso has been grappling with increasing violence from Islamist groups since their incursion from Mali in 2016. The situation worsened following military coups in 2022, which led to a reliance on militias to combat the insurgency. Despite promises from military leaders to improve security conditions, violence has surged instead. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the actions of both armed groups and government forces in Burkina Faso, calling for accountability and immediate action to protect civilians from ongoing violence and humanitarian crises.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with thousands displaced and many more facing food shortages due to blocked access to essential supplies by armed groups.
