Burkina Faso: urgent calls for action on grave human rights abuses against the fulani people

As the 45th session of the Human Rights Council draws to a close, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and its partners within the SOS-Torture Network are issuing an urgent appeal. They implore the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all Council members to direct their immediate attention to the plight of the Fulani populations in Burkina Faso, who find themselves caught in the escalating conflict against terrorism across the Sahel region.

Since 2016, the Fulani community in Burkina Faso has endured severe human rights violations, actions that frequently meet the criteria for international crimes. The overwhelming scale of atrocities in specific areas suggests a disturbing pattern that could be indicative of ethnic cleansing, given their widespread, systematic, and indiscriminate nature.

These egregious acts predominantly involve the extrajudicial executions of thousands of civilians. Perpetrators include state security forces, often aided by state-supported self-defense groups, as well as non-state armed factions. Between January 2019 and May 2020 alone, hundreds of innocent civilians were brutally killed in locations such as Yirgou, Kain Ouro, Banh, Barga, Djibo, and Tawalbougou. Furthermore, thousands more civilians, including vulnerable children, languish in detention facilities, notably in Kaya and Loumbila, under appalling and inhumane conditions. These detentions often stem from arbitrary arrests and secret confinement, with victims routinely denied access to legal counsel or judicial review. Compounding these issues, a pervasive atmosphere of discrimination and stigmatization has emerged, leaving these communities facing severe food insecurity.

Despite numerous reports and formal complaints lodged with the courts, Burkinabe authorities have regrettably failed to identify and hold accountable those responsible for these grave violations. We strongly urge the Human Rights Council to recommend that Burkina Faso’s government implement all necessary security and judicial measures to establish a protective environment for this highly vulnerable group.