100 Fulani civilians killed in Burkina Faso massacre

DDM News

At least 100 civilians, mostly of Fulani ethnicity, were reportedly killed in a brutal military operation by Burkina Faso’s security forces earlier this morning.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) learned that the massacre occurred between late February and early April near Solenzo, a town in the Boucle du Mouhoun region in western Burkina Faso.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a detailed report released on Monday, alleged that the perpetrators were members of the country’s Special Forces and a pro-government militia known as the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP).

Victims and eyewitnesses claimed that Fulani civilians were indiscriminately targeted by the military and VDP members.

The Fulani are a widely dispersed pastoralist ethnic group across West Africa and have often faced accusations by governments in the Sahel of collaborating with Islamist militant groups.

The HRW report said the operation, which began on February 27 and ended on April 2, was marked by drone surveillance and ground assaults involving hundreds of troops.

Eyewitness accounts described the horrors in detail, saying that the attackers fired upon fleeing villagers, including women and children.

“I saw the VDPs shooting at us like we were animals,” recounted a 44-year-old Fulani herder from Solenzo. “Drones hovered above while bullets rained down. Many women and children died trying to escape.”

Following the attack, hundreds of Fulani fled into neighboring Mali, fearing more violence.

A 53-year-old man from Solenzo told researchers, “There are no Fulani left in the province. They were either killed, kidnapped, or forced to flee. Only other ethnic groups remain.”

Government officials initially denied any wrongdoing when early reports emerged, issuing a statement condemning what they described as “hate-inducing images and fake news” circulating on social media.

However, Human Rights Watch insists that its findings are backed by testimonies, photographs, and videos showing the involvement of state forces.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s senior Sahel researcher, stated, “The evidence points to Burkina Faso’s military being directly responsible. This demands an impartial investigation and prosecution of those involved.”

In a tragic development, Islamist militants reportedly re-entered the affected towns shortly after government forces withdrew, seeking revenge for the killings.

The jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) allegedly carried out further massacres, targeting men they believed to be government collaborators.

A 60-year-old woman from Tiao village described a grisly scene on April 5. “I saw them execute every man in front of the health centre. I counted 70 bodies.”

Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African country with a population of over 23 million, has faced increasing instability in recent years.

It is part of the arid Sahel region that has become a hotspot for extremist violence linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Since a military junta seized power in 2022, security has deteriorated sharply, and promises of restoring stability have not materialized.

According to international observers, over 60% of Burkina Faso is now outside government control.

More than 2.1 million citizens have been displaced by violence, while close to 6.5 million require humanitarian assistance.

Rights groups warn that the government’s policy of arming and mobilizing civilian militias without adequate training has worsened ethnic tensions, particularly targeting communities like the Fulani.

Freedom of speech has also been severely restricted under the junta.

Analysts say a de facto censorship regime prevents journalists and citizens from reporting atrocities.

Those who speak out risk being abducted, detained, or forcibly conscripted into military service.

As the crisis deepens, international voices are urging independent investigations into human rights abuses and stronger humanitarian support for the displaced.

Yet, the silence from Burkina Faso’s leadership continues, with no official response so far to the HRW’s latest findings.

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