May 14, 2025 –
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a damning report alleging that the Burkina Faso military participated in the massacre of more than 130 ethnic Fulani civilians in March 2025, alongside pro-government militias in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region.
According to the report, the atrocities occurred on March 10 and 11 near the town of Solenzo, Banwa province. HRW claims that members of the military and allied militia groups targeted Fulani communities in what appeared to be retaliatory attacks. The Fulani have long faced government accusations of supporting Islamist insurgents.
“The viral videos of atrocities committed by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa’s Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Further investigation uncovered that Burkina Faso’s military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians, which were followed by deadly reprisals by an Islamist armed group. The government must impartially investigate these deaths and prosecute all those responsible.”
Shocking Video Evidence
Human Rights Watch analyzed 11 graphic videos shared on social media beginning March 11. The footage shows dozens of dead men, women, and children. Some survivors, visibly injured and bound, are shown surrounded by armed men. The perpetrators were identified as members of local militias known as Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie (Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, or VDP). Some wore T-shirts labeled with the names of two militia groups: Groupe d’autodéfense de Mahouna and Force Rapide de Kouka.
In one disturbing 29-second video, a dead woman lies on the ground with a critically injured toddler nearby. A voice, speaking in Mooré, says: “It’s the work of your parents that brought you here. You think you can get all of Burkina Faso. This is your end.”
Another video, just over two minutes long, shows a seriously injured woman next to a child. Voices off-camera taunt her: “You, the Fulani people, do you think you can take over Burkina Faso? You will never! What is left for you to do here is to disappear.”
A third video shows armed men throwing a living man onto a three-wheeled vehicle stacked with what appear to be at least ten corpses. Human Rights Watch estimates at least 58 individuals appear dead or dying in the videos, though the actual death toll may be significantly higher.
Retaliatory Violence by Jihadist Groups
In the aftermath of the Solenzo massacre, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM) launched retaliatory attacks in Sourou province, targeting villages believed to support the military. These counterattacks, reportedly carried out in mid to late March, killed at least 100 civilians.
Sources interviewed by HRW indicated that the initial military operations specifically targeted displaced Fulani communities. Islamist groups like JNIM have actively recruited among the Fulani, exploiting grievances over discrimination, government neglect, and disputes over natural resources.
Lack of Accountability and Official Silence
Despite widespread circulation of the graphic videos online, Burkinabè authorities have made no public statement about the incidents or the military’s role. HRW noted that no public information has been released regarding military operations in the Solenzo area.
Allegrozzi criticized the government’s silence: “The gruesome videos of an apparent massacre by pro-government militias in Burkina Faso underscore the pervasive lack of accountability of these forces. Burkinabè authorities should take immediate action to end militia group attacks on civilians and punish those responsible for atrocities like in Solenzo.”
Eyewitness Accounts and On-the-Ground Reporting
Between March 14 and April 22, Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with 27 witnesses, two militia members, and several journalists and civil society representatives. These firsthand accounts, combined with video analysis and media reports, formed the basis of the organization’s findings.
Burkina Faso is home to over 60 indigenous languages, with Mooré being the most widely spoken. In December 2023, the government elevated Mooré, Bissa, Dyula, and Fula to official status, replacing French as the official language. The Fulani (Fula-speaking) people have often been caught between government forces and Islamist militants, making them particularly vulnerable in the country’s ongoing conflict.
Human Rights Watch is urging the Burkinabè government to initiate independent investigations and ensure justice for the victims. Without accountability, analysts warn, the cycle of violence may continue to spiral.
