A recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has uncovered chilling details of ethnic massacres in Burkina Faso, exposing systematic atrocities by both government forces and Islamist militants between February and April 2025. The violence, which unfolded under the guise of counterterrorism and retaliation, left hundreds dead, displaced thousands, and starkly highlighted the region’s deep-seated ethnic tensions.
The bloodshed began with the government’s military campaign, Operation Green Whirlwind 2, from February 27 to April 2, 2025. Burkina Faso’s army, aided by pro-government Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) militias, targeted ethnic Fulani civilians in Banwa province in western Burkina Faso. Survivors and witnesses recounted mass killings, looting, and ethnic cleansing during the operation’s peak from March 8–12, 2025.
In retaliation, the Al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) struck back in early April 2025, launching coordinated massacres in Sourou province. JNIM targeted non-Fulani communities, accusing them of collaborating with the government forces.
Massacres and Death Toll
In Banwa province, at least 130 civilians, mostly ethnic Fulani women, children, and the elderly, were killed in cold blood. Survivors compiled victim lists naming 130 individuals from villages like Béna, Lékoro, and Mahouna, though the real toll may be much higher. Shocking videos emerged showing VDP militias gleefully dumping bodies into vehicles, calling for the “extermination of the Fulani.”
In Sourou province, JNIM massacred at least 100 civilians, with estimates reaching 200 in villages like Gonon, Mara, and Tiao on April 5. The attacks specifically targeted Mossi, Bobo, and Dafing men, who were accused of aiding government forces.
HRW’s investigation revealed harrowing methods employed by both sides:
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Army/VDP Atrocities: Fulani civilians were surrounded in a pincer movement, shot while fleeing, or executed after capture. Military helicopters and drones monitored the slaughter, implicating high-level command responsibility. Eleven videos documented VDP abuses, including looting and ethnic slurs.
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JNIM Reprisals: Fighters forcibly rounded up non-Fulani men from their homes, herded them to health centers or gathering points, and executed them. These attacks were preceded by threats of retaliation for the Banwa massacres.
Ethnic Targeting and Mass Displacement
The conflict starkly illustrated ethnic fault lines:
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Fulani civilians were deliberately hunted by government forces, conflating them with jihadists, with survivors describing efforts to “cleanse the area of Fulani.”
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Non-Fulani civilians were singled out by JNIM for perceived collaboration with the state.
The violence forced thousands of Fulani from Banwa province to flee into neighboring Mali, leaving entire villages deserted. Reports indicate no Fulani remained in Banwa after the massacres. Similarly, non-Fulani communities in Sourou were displaced on a massive scale.
War Crimes and Legal Violations
The HRW report highlights the systematic nature of the killings as clear violations of international humanitarian law. Both sides engaged in summary executions, ethnic-based killings, and looting, actions that may constitute crimes against humanity. Government statements claiming “100 terrorists killed” stand in stark contradiction to witness accounts, which found no evidence of combat in the targeted villages.
The African Union and UN officials have condemned the atrocities, demanding accountability and justice.
Operation Green Whirlwind 2, involving rapid intervention battalions and VDP militias, aimed to root out Islamist militants. However, Fulani civilians were routinely conflated with jihadist fighters, exacerbating ethnic tensions that JNIM, in turn, exploited to justify its retaliatory massacres.
Human Rights Watch has urged the Burkinabè government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. The UN Security Council and African Union have been called upon to prioritize the protection of civilians and to hold perpetrators accountable.
