Why the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights must act on Burkina Faso
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (CADHP) faces a critical moment as it prepares to review Burkina Faso’s human rights record on October 23, 2024. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, urge the commission to prioritize urgent concerns that have intensified since the country’s 2022 military coups and ongoing insurgency.
The Union africaine’s state reporting procedure requires member states to submit regular reports on their compliance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. However, Burkina Faso’s latest report—submitted in May 2023 and covering 2015–2021—fails to adequately address pressing human rights violations. These include widespread abuses by both state security forces and Islamist armed groups, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and systemic impunity.
Key concerns in Burkina Faso’s human rights crisis
- Civilian protection failures: The armed conflict between government forces and groups like the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) has led to mass civilian casualties. Human Rights Watch has documented crimes against humanity, including unlawful killings, forced disappearances, and drone strikes targeting civilians.
- Restrictions on civic space: Since 2022, the military junta has systematically repressed activists, opposition figures, journalists, and critics through illegal conscription, enforced disappearances, and judicial harassment. Recent cases include the abduction of human rights defender Daouda Diallo and the forced disappearance of three journalists.
- Lack of accountability: Despite documented abuses by security forces—such as the 2023 Karma massacre and 2023 Zaongo attack—the government has made minimal progress in investigating or prosecuting perpetrators.
The CADHP has previously raised alarms over these issues, including issuing statements in April 2023 (post-Karma massacre) and November 2023 (post-Zaongo attack), demanding investigations and civilian protection. Yet, the junta’s inaction persists, with no transparency on the whereabouts of forcibly disappeared individuals.
Human Rights Watch calls on the CADHP to:
- Demand concrete reforms from Burkina Faso’s government to protect civilians during military operations and uphold international humanitarian law.
- Press for accountability by investigating abuses by both state forces and armed groups, ensuring perpetrators face justice.
- Advocate for civic freedoms by condemning the repression of activists, journalists, and political opponents, and demanding their safety.
- Request an official visit to Burkina Faso to assess the situation firsthand and publish a comprehensive report.
« The CADHP’s upcoming review is a pivotal opportunity to hold Burkina Faso accountable for its human rights obligations, » said Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. « The commission must address the military’s atrocities and the Islamist groups’ campaigns of terror while ensuring justice for victims. »
What’s next for Burkina Faso’s human rights trajectory?
With Burkina Faso’s government facing mounting criticism over its human rights record, the CADHP’s scrutiny could pressure the junta to act. However, without sustained international pressure and independent investigations, the cycle of violence and impunity may continue unchecked.
