At 36, Captain Ibrahim Traoré presents a striking figure: newly promoted, he presides over a presidential palace he did not secure through electoral means, having conveniently abolished such processes. This approach simplifies governance, eliminating the need to mislead voters and allowing for direct misrepresentations to journalists instead.
From the opulent Koulouba palace, Captain Traoré recently convened six journalists for a two-hour address, painting a picture of national resurgence. He asserted that the military was successfully reclaiming lost territories, industrial sectors were flourishing, gold reserves were accumulating, and infrastructure projects, like highway expansion, were progressing. Furthermore, he claimed an unprecedented level of freedom for the Burkinabè people, an idyllic scene seemingly only lacking a triumphant soundtrack and a flag waving majestically.
The stark counter-report
However, this optimistic monologue was overshadowed by a devastating report simultaneously released by Human Rights Watch. Titled “No One Will Escape,” this 351-page document meticulously compiled survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, and extensive death lists. It unveiled a grim reality: 1,837 civilians had been killed in Burkina Faso over two and a half years. The perpetrators included the national army, the VDP militias, and JNIM jihadists. While all parties contributed to the violence, the report unequivocally highlighted that state-sponsored actors, operating with drone surveillance and explicit orders from above, were systematically responsible for a significant portion of these killings.
The findings detailed widespread war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the ethnic targeting of the Fulani community. Disturbing examples included the summary executions of 223 civilians, among them 56 children, in Nondin in February 2024; hundreds dead in Baraboulé in December 2023; and 130 Fulani massacred near Solenzo in March 2025. The report presented irrefutable evidence of mass graves, compelling survivor accounts, and corroborating satellite data. Such overwhelming evidence makes any suggestion of a mere Western conspiracy difficult to sustain.
‘Liberated’ towns built on tragedy
Ironically, Captain Traoré proudly cited towns like Baraboulé and Pétégoli as examples of successful military recaptures. Yet, these very locations are central to the HRW report, which documented “Operation Tchéfari 2” – poetically named “The Warriors’ Honey” in Fulfulde, even amidst atrocities. This operation saw the army responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians across 16 villages. While state television hailed these actions as a “success,” survivors recount them as brutal massacres, illustrating a profound divergence in perspective.
Traoré attempted to explain these civilian deaths by claiming they were the work of terrorists disguised in military uniforms, who then filmed their own atrocities. This narrative raises significant questions about the logistical capabilities of these supposed terrorists, who would presumably need to don Burkinabè uniforms, coordinate military drones, involve multiple battalions, and then vanish without a trace. Such a level of sophistication seems incongruous for individuals whom Traoré himself described as merely “reading the Quran in the bush.”
The unmentionable truth
During his two-hour interview, the word “Fulani” was conspicuously absent, never once uttered. This omission is profoundly unsettling, akin to recounting World War II history without acknowledging the Jewish people – technically possible, yet morally reprehensible. The Human Rights Watch report meticulously documented the systematic targeting of the Fulani community, who constitute 8% of Burkina Faso’s population. They are collectively accused of terrorism, leading to village-by-village massacres and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
The report even quoted Captain Traoré himself, who in February 2023, warned Fulani leaders: “There will be many dead. And it will be more complicated for your community.” His presidential guard chief was reportedly even more explicit, stating: “We will kill them all.” Despite these documented threats and actions, the official stance maintains that there is no Fulani issue in Burkina Faso, only a problem of Fulani people.
A hollow claim of freedom
Traoré’s assertion that Burkinabè citizens are “much freer” than their European counterparts rings hollow in the face of widespread repression. The reality includes journalists being abducted and forcibly conscripted into militias, independent media outlets shut down, human rights websites blocked, the electoral commission dissolved, and the death penalty reinstated. Adding to this oppressive environment, pro-junta troll networks, known as the “BIR-C” (Rapid Communication Intervention Battalions), relentlessly flood social media with propaganda and deepfakes designed to glorify the military leader, making the state-controlled narratives of regimes like Kim Jong-un seem almost amateurish in comparison.
Justice: a selective application
Human Rights Watch has called for an investigation into Captain Traoré for command responsibility, with six generals explicitly named in their report. To date, none have faced trial. The junta’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court further suggests an intent to evade accountability, as fleeing international tribunals is a common tactic for those with something to conceal. Meanwhile, Traoré publicly shames corrupt traffic officers caught pocketing 500 CFA francs, elevating such minor infractions to national scandals, while the massacre of hundreds of civilians by the army is dismissed as “terrorist perfidy.” This stark contrast clearly illustrates the junta’s distorted priorities.
Shifting blame to the West
Any criticism directed at the regime is swiftly dismissed as external interference. A European Parliament resolution? Interference. The French army chief? Told to “mind his own business.” NGOs? Manipulators. Media? Liars. The internet? Fake. Territorial maps? Also fake. The comprehensive 351-page HRW report, based on 450 interviews? Deemed fake. In this narrative, everything is fabricated except for Captain Traoré’s own pronouncements.
While the postcolonial grievance and France’s historical exploitation of Africa are undeniable facts, using this historical truth as an impenetrable shield to justify the massacre of one’s own population is a dangerous precedent, reminiscent of Mugabe’s tactics on an accelerated timeline. Anti-imperialism, however legitimate, does not grant a license to kill.
In a final, chilling irony, Captain Traoré recently encouraged Burkinabè citizens to “have children” because “the land is rich.” Indeed, it is rich enough to bury a growing number of its own people.
