Burkina Faso Conflict: Forensics of a Massacre in Solenzo

Human Rights Watch reported in March that at least 100 ethnic Fulani civilians were killed by government forces near Solenzo, Burkina Faso. The attack involved Burkina Faso special forces and the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, sparking deadly retaliations and driving many Fulani to flee to Mali.

In March, government forces in Burkina Faso reportedly killed over 100 ethnic Fulani civilians near Solenzo, as stated by Human Rights Watch on Monday. Victims’ testimonies and social media videos indicate the involvement of Burkina Faso special forces and the pro-government Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland militia.

The massacre has escalated the ongoing conflict in Burkina Faso, as it was followed by retaliatory killings from jihadist fighters. This incident feeds into the broader security crisis impacting the Sahel region, a situation exacerbated by a military junta struggling to fulfill its promises of stability since taking power in 2022.

Human Rights Watch and other rights groups are urging the Burkina Faso government to conduct a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable, amid accusations of military-led violence and strained ethnic relations. The situation remains tense, with ethnic Fulani fleeing the violence, and broader societal tensions aggravated by the military's censorship measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)