In Burkina Faso, the Fula community is facing severe human rights violations, according to independent investigators from the United Nations. Reports detail a surge in extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detentions, abductions, and forced disappearances during military and security operations targeting jihadist groups in the Sahel region. These abuses paint a grim picture of repression and targeted violence.
un experts highlight systemic abuses against fula civilians
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed deep concern over the grave violations endured by the Fula people in Burkina Faso. In a recent report, the Committee highlighted that these abuses are often carried out by national armed forces, internal security units, and their auxiliaries, including the Volontaires pour la défense de la Patrie, as well as by non-state armed groups.
The Committee also raised alarm over the ethnic profiling of Fula individuals by defense and security forces, the Volontaires pour la défense de la Patrie, and members of the Brigade civique pour l’ordre et la discipline (commonly known as Brigade Laabal). Many of these violations are allegedly linked to the perceived association of Fula civilians with terrorist organizations.
escalating hate speech and ethnic discrimination
The stigma faced by the Fula community has fueled a dangerous climate of hatred and discriminatory rhetoric, including online incitement to violence. The Committee condemned messages circulating on social media that openly call for criminal acts, including murder, against Fula individuals. These inflammatory posts contribute to a rise in racist attacks and hate crimes, underscoring the urgent need for state intervention to prevent further violations.
The Committee has urged the government in Ouagadougou to launch immediate, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into all reported abuses by defense and security forces and their auxiliaries. It has also called for the prosecution and appropriate punishment of those responsible. Beyond punitive measures, the Committee emphasized the need for legal and preventive actions to combat ethnic and racial discrimination.
call for stronger legal frameworks and accountability
The Committee recommended that Burkina Faso explicitly prohibit racial and ethnic profiling in its legislation, aligning with international standards. It stressed the importance of clear, binding operational guidelines for police and law enforcement to prevent profiling during identity checks, crowd control, and military and security operations.
Ouagadougou rejects allegations of ethnic targeting
The release of the Committee’s findings coincides with Burkina Faso’s defense of its security operations, which the government insists comply with national and international human rights laws. According to the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, the fight against terrorism is not directed at any specific community. « The operations are conducted strictly in accordance with national laws and Burkina Faso’s international human rights commitments, » she stated.
The ambassador also refuted claims of ethnic profiling, asserting that such allegations do not reflect reality. The government pointed to existing complaint mechanisms, community policing initiatives, and training programs for defense and security forces aimed at preventing stigmatization. It highlighted the diversity within state institutions and security forces, including the presence of Fula representatives at high levels.
