Burkina Faso urged to uphold human rights amid rising abuses
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) must prioritize Burkina Faso’s most pressing human rights challenges during the country’s upcoming review on October 23, 2024, according to Human Rights Watch.
The Burkinabè government faces urgent calls to safeguard civilians caught in the armed conflict, defend civic freedoms for activists, journalists, and political opponents, and ensure accountability for grave abuses.
key issues demanding immediate action
The State reporting procedure, a mechanism of the African Union designed to assess member states’ compliance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, requires countries to submit regular reports detailing legislative and other measures taken to enforce these rights. However, Burkina Faso’s latest report, submitted in May 2023 and covering 2015–2021, fails to adequately address critical human rights concerns, including:
- Widespread abuses by state security forces and Islamist armed groups during conflict operations
- Erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms
- Systemic impunity for perpetrators of violence
“The ACHPR’s review of Burkina Faso presents a vital opportunity to engage the Burkinabè authorities on their human rights record,” said Allan Ngari, Africa Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch. “The Commission must press the government to prioritize civilian protection in military operations and uphold international humanitarian law.”
escalating violence and accountability gaps
Since 2016, Burkina Faso has been battling insurgencies led by the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), linked to Al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), both originating from Mali. The country has experienced two military coups since 2022, further destabilizing the security situation.
The Burkinabè government’s report highlights counterterrorism measures, such as establishing specialized courts for terrorism cases and deploying military oversight officers to monitor detainee rights. It also claims security forces receive human rights training to prevent abuses and that perpetrators of “inhumane or degrading acts” are held accountable.
Yet, Human Rights Watch has documented persistent abuses by state forces during counterinsurgency operations, including:
- Illegal killings and forced disappearances of civilians accused of collaborating with armed groups
- Massacres, such as the April 2023 attack in Karma, Yatenga Province, where dozens of civilians were reportedly killed
- Widespread impunity, with no investigations or prosecutions into security force abuses
Meanwhile, Islamist armed groups have also committed grave atrocities, including:
- Summary executions, sexual violence, and abductions
- Pillage of towns and villages
- Siege tactics that trap civilians without access to food or medical aid
The ACHPR has previously condemned abuses, such as the 2023 Karma massacre and the 2023 attack in Zaongo, Namentenga Province, calling for investigations. However, the Burkinabè government has made little progress in holding perpetrators accountable, despite its international obligations.
crackdown on civic space and dissent
The government’s report mentions steps to protect civil and political rights, such as a 2017 law for human rights defenders. However, since then—and particularly since the 2022 coup—the junta has systematically suppressed dissent, targeting activists, opposition figures, journalists, and critics through:
- Illegal conscription of dissidents into the military as punishment
- Enforced disappearances and abductions of government critics
- Judicial harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders
Notable cases include the December 2023 kidnapping of prominent activist Daouda Diallo and the July 2024 forced disappearance of three journalists, whose whereabouts remain unknown despite legal and family demands for information.
urgent recommendations for the acdhr
Human Rights Watch urges the ACHPR to:
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation into abuses by both state forces and Islamist groups
- Recommend concrete measures to ensure accountability for grave crimes
- Call for the protection of civil society, media, and political opposition
- Demand the release of arbitrarily detained individuals, including journalists and activists
- Consider requesting an official visit to Burkina Faso to assess the human rights situation firsthand
“The ACHPR must address the Burkinabè government’s failure to protect civilians and hold abusers to account,” Ngari concluded. “It should also recommend urgent steps to restore civic freedoms and ensure safe conditions for those defending human rights.”
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