Burkina Faso putting civilians at risk amid conflict with rebels: HRW

Government accused of making people targets during August attack by al-Qaeda-linked armed group.

Burkina Faso should urgently prioritise the protection of civilians amid its ongoing struggle with armed rebels, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a report.

The NGO stated on Tuesday that the government put people at “unnecessary risk” during an armed group attack earlier this year. At least 133 people were killed by the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in August.

The incident in the central part of the country was one of this year’s deadliest, as Burkina Faso continues to be ravaged by attacks by armed groups.

Villagers in the Barsalogho commune, 80km (50 miles) from the capital, Ouagadougou, were forced to help security forces dig up trenches to protect security outposts and villages. JNIM fighters then opened fire on them, according to witnesses quoted in the report.

Many villagers, who were not compensated for digging the trenches, were reported to have refused to help, fearing they would be exposed to attacks. However, the report says they were forced by the military, using threats and beatings, to carry out the task.