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Burkina Faso's government has denied a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report alleging that more than 1,800 civilians were killed in the country since Ibrahim Traoré seized power three years ago, with the majority of deaths blamed on the military and allied militias. The report, released this week, documents what it describes as 'war crimes and crimes against humanity' committed by both state forces and Islamist militants.

Coverage comparison

The denial was reported by two international outlets: Africa News and the BBC. While both carried the government's rejection, they framed the story differently. Africa News emphasized the government's response to the HRW report, with a neutral tone and indirect attribution. The BBC focused more heavily on the allegations themselves, using more condemnatory language such as 'horrific abuses' and 'butchery' in its coverage.

Neither report provided details of the government's full statement beyond dismissing the findings as 'false' and 'conjecture and serious unfounded claims.' The government has not issued a comprehensive response beyond the denial, according to both sources.

Key claims

  • HRW says 1,837 civilians, including dozens of children, were killed in 57 incidents between January 2023 and August 2025. This figure is reported by both sources.
  • The majority of those killings — 1,255 — are attributed to the military and allied militias, according to HRW. The rest are blamed on Islamist militants, as reported by both sources.
  • HRW's report is based on open-source information, including photos, videos and satellite imagery, as well as interviews with witnesses and survivors. This methodology is described in both articles.
  • One of the deadliest incidents cited is in Djibo in December 2023, where HRW says the military and allied militias killed more than 400 civilians. Africa News noted survivors described the killings as brutal and said they suffered psychological trauma.
  • HRW says President Traoré and six senior military commanders 'may be liable as a matter of command responsibility for grave abuses and should be investigated.' This claim is carried only by the BBC.
  • HRW also names five jihadist leaders who may be culpable for war crimes, according to the BBC.

Perspectives

Government's response

The Burkinabé government has denied the report, calling its findings 'false' and describing them as 'conjecture and serious unfounded claims.' According to Africa News, this is not the first time the government has faced such accusations; it has previously dismissed allegations of civilian killings by its forces. The military junta has said its primary goal is to combat jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda, which have controlled large parts of the country for over a decade.

Human Rights Watch's stance

HRW's report accuses all sides — the military, allied militias, and Islamist militants — of committing war crimes, including willful killing, attacks on civilians and civilian objects, pillage, and forced displacement. Ilze Bērziņa, HRW's executive director, is quoted as saying: 'The scale of atrocities taking place in Burkina Faso is mind-boggling, as is the lack of global attention to this crisis.' The report also criticizes the junta for failing to hold perpetrators accountable and for blocking reporting that could reveal the suffering of civilians.

Broader context

Burkina Faso is one of several West African nations that have experienced coups in recent years, including Guinea and Gabon, as noted by Africa News. The military's seizure of power in 2022 was justified by the need to tackle a long-running insurgency by jihadist groups. However, the HRW report suggests that the security forces themselves have been responsible for a significant number of civilian deaths, raising questions about the junta's conduct and accountability.

Methodology note

This article is based on two news reports: one from Africa News and one from the BBC. Both outlets relied on the HRW report and the government's denial. The BBC's article included more detail on the allegations and used more emotive language, while Africa News provided a more neutral summary. Some specific claims, such as those regarding individual liability of senior commanders, appeared only in one source and should be considered as part of HRW's report rather than independently verified facts.