• National forces in Burkina Faso, supported by local militias and Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents, have executed over 1,800 non-combatants and caused the forced displacement of tens of thousands since early 2023.
• The ruling military junta is accused of orchestrating horrific abuses while failing to prosecute offenders from any faction, further suppressing media coverage to mask the extent of civilian misery.
• International partners and regional bodies are urged to press the authorities in Burkina Faso to halt these violations and establish genuine legal accountability for those responsible.

A comprehensive investigation has revealed that the military of Burkina Faso, its paramilitary allies, and a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda have collectively killed more than 1,800 civilians. Since 2023, these factions have also uprooted tens of thousands of people. These acts, which include targeted ethnic cleansing of the Fulani population by state actors, are classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, placing high-ranking leaders on all sides at risk of legal prosecution.

The extensive 341-page report, titled “No One Will Escape”, details the catastrophic toll of a conflict that has largely been ignored by the international community. Investigators analyzed 57 specific incidents involving the Burkina Faso armed forces, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) militias, and the Islamist insurgent group known as GSIM (or Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin, JNIM) since the military junta seized power in September 2022.

“The magnitude of the violence in Burkina Faso is horrifying, yet the global response remains disturbingly quiet,” remarked Philippe Bolopion, a senior human rights executive. He noted that the junta is actively participating in atrocities while shielding perpetrators from justice and censoring information to hide the plight of those caught in the crossfire.

The findings are based on interviews with over 450 individuals across Burkina Faso, Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali, conducted between January 2023 and August 2025. Researchers also utilized satellite imagery, official records, and thousands of hours of video evidence to confirm massacre sites and identify military commanders.

Under the leadership of President Ibrahim Traoré, the junta has launched a ruthless crackdown on political rivals, peaceful protesters, and the free press. This campaign of intimidation has created a climate of fear, effectively blocking the flow of data regarding the war’s true human cost.

The insurgency, which began in 2016 when GSIM and other radical groups challenged the state, has evolved into a cycle of brutal counter-insurgency operations. Both the military and GSIM have adopted the killing of civilians as a strategic tool, often targeting specific ethnic groups accused of aiding the opposition.

One of the most horrific events occurred in December 2023 near Djibo. During “Operation Tchéfari 2,” the Burkina Faso army and its militias slaughtered over 400 civilians across 16 villages. A survivor recounted the horror of losing her two daughters instantly when militiamen opened fire, ordered to ensure no one was left alive.

State forces have specifically focused their violence on Fulani communities, leading to what monitors describe as ethnic cleansing. In November 2023, for example, government-aligned militias executed 13 Fulani civilians in the village of Bassé, including several children and women, leaving their bodies bound and riddled with bullets.

On the insurgent side, GSIM has used extreme violence to maintain territorial dominance. In August 2024, the group killed at least 133 people in Barsalogho, including dozens of children, after accusing the town of supporting government militias. Witnesses described the attackers firing relentlessly, intent on total extermination.

Furthermore, GSIM has placed dozens of towns under siege, cutting off essential supplies and causing widespread starvation and disease. The group frequently uses improvised explosives and destroys critical infrastructure like water sources and bridges to isolate populations.

Legal analysis indicates that all warring parties have committed war crimes, including summary executions, attacks on non-military targets, and forced displacement. These systematic assaults on the civilian population also qualify as crimes against humanity.

President Ibrahim Traoré and six senior military officers are identified as potentially liable for these violations under command responsibility. Similarly, GSIM leader Iyad Ag Ghaly—already wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes in Mali—along with four other insurgent commanders, should face investigation for their roles in the Burkina Faso massacres.

Despite the gravity of these crimes, impunity remains the norm. Victims report a total lack of trust in the national justice system, while government officials continue to deny or downplay the military’s role in the violence. International observers are calling for the ICC to launch a preliminary probe and for global powers to impose targeted sanctions on those orchestrating the bloodshed.

“The international community must acknowledge the scale of these atrocities to stop them,” Philippe Bolopion concluded. He stressed that regional organizations must work with Burkina Faso to ensure that those responsible for these grave violations are finally held accountable.