Human Rights Watch has called upon the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to focus on the most severe challenges facing Burkina Faso during its country review scheduled for October 23, 2024. The rights group emphasized that the Burkinabè government must urgently protect civilians impacted by the armed conflict, preserve civic space for activists, journalists, and the political opposition, and ensure that those responsible for grave abuses are held accountable.
The State reporting review procedure, an African Union mechanism to assess member state compliance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, requires countries to submit regular reports on measures taken to uphold charter rights. However, the May 2023 report from Burkina Faso, which covers the 2015-2021 period, offers little to no discussion of current human rights issues. These include extensive abuses by both state security forces and Islamist armed groups, restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms, and widespread impunity.
“The review of Burkina Faso by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights presents a vital chance for engagement with the country’s authorities on their human rights record,” stated Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “The ACHPR should compel the Burkinabè authorities to make civilian protection a priority in military operations and to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.”
Since 2016, Burkina Faso has been fighting an insurgency led by the Al-Qaïda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), after these armed groups expanded from Mali. The country has also experienced two military coups since 2022.
Burkina Faso’s report outlines measures to combat “violent extremism” and terrorism, such as creating a special unit to investigate and prosecute terrorist offenses and deploying military provosts to maintain discipline and protect detainee rights. The report also states that security forces are trained in human rights and international humanitarian law to prevent abuses, and that perpetrators of “inhumane or degrading acts” face accountability.
In contrast, Human Rights Watch has documented serious abuses by Burkinabè security forces during counterinsurgency operations throughout the period covered by the report and since, including acts that may constitute crimes against humanity. Soldiers have unlawfully killed and forcibly disappeared hundreds of civilians whom they accused of collaborating with Islamist armed groups.
Islamist armed groups have also perpetrated severe abuses against civilians, including summary executions, sexual violence, kidnappings, and pillaging. They also continue to besiege many towns and villages across the country.
In April 2023, the ACHPR issued a communiqué following the massacre of dozens of civilians in the village of Karma, Yatenga province, allegedly by security forces, urging authorities to launch investigations and “ensure the protection of civilians.” In November 2023, the ACHPR’s Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa co-signed an urgent appeal letter after an attack on civilians in Zaongo village, Namentenga province, also demanding an investigation.
The primary responsibility for ensuring justice for the most serious crimes lies with the Burkinabè government under international law. Yet, it has made little progress in investigating, let alone prosecuting, those responsible for the many grave crimes committed in the armed conflict since 2016. The report from Burkina Faso provides no information on inquiries into alleged abuses by government security forces during the reporting period, nor on any related legal proceedings.
The report also references a June 2017 law intended to protect human rights defenders. However, Human Rights Watch stated that Burkinabè authorities have restricted civil and political rights both during the period covered by the report and in the time since.
Since taking power in 2022, the military junta has engaged in a systematic crackdown on activists, opposition party members, journalists, and critics. Human Rights Watch has extensively documented the use of illegal conscription to silence dissent, as well as the abductions and enforced disappearances of dozens of government critics and dissidents.
In December 2023, the ACHPR voiced concern over the abduction of prominent human rights defender Daouda Diallo and the “acts of intimidation, judicial harassment and reprisals” against all defenders. In July, it condemned the suspected enforced disappearance of three Burkinabè journalists, calling on authorities to reveal their whereabouts and free them. The authorities have not provided any information on the journalists’ location, despite requests from their families and legal counsel.
The ACHPR has not conducted a mission to Burkina Faso for several years. Human Rights Watch suggested the Commission should seek authorization for an official visit to evaluate the human rights situation and publish a detailed report.
“The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights must engage in a thorough discussion about the grave abuses committed by both Burkinabè security forces and Islamist armed groups, as well as the critical need for accountability,” concluded Allan Ngari. “The ACHPR should also recommend tangible steps to guarantee the protection of activists, journalists, and political opponents in Burkina Faso, enabling them to carry out their work without fear.”