By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
At least 50 civilians have been killed in a series of attacks by armed Islamist groups in Burkina Faso since May 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a new report on Sunday.
The rights group said the killings occurred in multiple assaults across the country, underscoring the worsening security crisis in the West African nation.
“Since May, armed Islamist groups have massacred scores of civilians in Burkina Faso, continuing their campaign of atrocities against the population,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW.
The report detailed that attacks intensified in rural areas, where jihadist groups targeted villages, executed civilians, and looted property, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Burkina Faso has been grappling with mounting violence since 2015, when al-Qaeda and Islamic State–linked militants began launching cross-border raids from neighboring Mali. The crisis has displaced over 2 million people and plunged communities into hunger and fear.
HRW urged Burkina Faso’s transitional authorities to prioritize protection of civilians and ensure accountability for atrocities, while calling on international partners to increase humanitarian support.
“The Burkinabè people are living under siege. Without urgent action, the civilian death toll will only rise,” Allegrozzi added.
