Burkina Faso: Over 500 Civilians Feared Dead in Wave of Military Massacres
By: Zagazola Makama
Reports of brutal mass killings allegedly carried out by Burkina Faso’s security forces and allied paramilitary groups have sparked outrage, with over 500 civilians feared dead in a series of massacres across the country since 2023. The most recent incident in Solenzo, Banwa Province, on March 11, 2025, has further intensified concerns over what human rights organizations describe as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possible ethnic cleansing.
Solenzo Massacre: Dozens Executed, Gruesome Videos Emerge
The March 11 massacre in Solenzo is one of the deadliest in recent months. Eyewitness accounts, survivor testimonies, and disturbing video evidence suggest that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were executed in cold blood by Burkina Faso’s military and the government-backed Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). According to the Burkinabè Democrats Panel (PDB), a civil rights group, the killings targeted members of the Fulani (Peulh) ethnic group, accused of supporting Islamist insurgents. Graphic footage, allegedly filmed by the perpetrators themselves, has flooded social media, showing bodies dumped in mass graves, burnt corpses, and homes set ablaze.
“We have seen this before,” said Aboubacar Tall, acting president of the Burkinabè Democrats Panel. “This is a continuation of the systematic extermination of civilians under the guise of counterterrorism.”
The Solenzo massacre is not an isolated event. Reports indicate that similar mass executions have taken place in multiple locations across Burkina Faso. The Burkinabè Democrats Panel and international human rights organizations have documented several large-scale killings: Karma, Yatenga Province (April 2023): Over 150 civilians executed. Zaongo, Namentenga Province (November 2023): More than 100 people killed. Soro, Yatenga Province (February 2024): Over 220 civilians massacred. Gayeri, Komondjari Province (2023-2024): Dozens of victims. Sé and Boura, Soum Province (December 2023): Women, children, and elderly executed. Between 2023 and 2025, killings attributed to Burkina Faso’s security forces and VDP militias have resulted in nearly 500 civilian deaths, with many more feared missing.
Human Rights Groups Sound Alarm: “War Crimes in Progress”
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have strongly condemned the latest massacres, warning that these acts could constitute crimes against humanity. HRW previously reported that between February and March 2024, at least 223 civilians were executed by Burkinabè soldiers in Nondin and Soro villages a claim the government denied. However, newly surfaced videos and photographs confirm mass executions, showing bodies piled in makeshift graves and homes torched to the ground. Some of these gruesome materials were allegedly filmed by jihadist groups, who arrived at the massacre sites before journalists and investigators, possibly to exploit the killings for propaganda purposes.
Government Denies Allegations, Dismisses Reports as “Misinformation”
In response to the growing accusations, the Burkina Faso military junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has denied any involvement in the massacres. Officials claim that the security forces operate under strict rules of engagement and dismissed the reports as foreign propaganda meant to destabilize the country.
However, independent observers, journalists, and local human rights activists continue to uncover compelling evidence of mass executions.
Risk of Civil War and Ethnic Cleansing
The escalating violence has led to fears of a full-blown civil war and ethnic conflict in Burkina Faso. Analysts warn that the military’s reliance on ethnic militias like the VDP—who are accused of targeting Fulani civilians could push the country into deeper turmoil.
“The Burkinabè state has a duty to protect its people, not eliminate them,” the Democrats Panel stated. “Like Rodrigo Duterte, who was extradited to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the war criminals in Burkina Faso will face justice in due time.”
With hundreds of deaths now linked to security forces, calls for an independent international investigation are mounting. The United Nations, African Union, and European Union have urged Burkina Faso’s government to allow human rights observers into the country. However, with Burkina Faso’s junta cracking down on dissent and restricting media coverage, human rights groups fear that the killings will continue unchecked unless immediate action is taken.
For now, the people of Burkina Faso remain trapped between a brutal counterinsurgency campaign and relentless jihadist violence, with civilians paying the ultimate price.
