As the 45th session of the Human Rights Council nears its conclusion, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and its partners within the SOS-Torture Network are urging the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, along with all Council members, to direct their immediate attention to the Fulani populations in Burkina Faso. These communities find themselves severely impacted by the ongoing struggle against terrorism in the Sahel region.

Since 2016, the Fulani people in Burkina Faso have endured egregious human rights violations, which in some instances may constitute international crimes. The staggering scale of massacres in specific areas could even be indicative of ethnic cleansing, given their widespread, systematic, and indiscriminate nature.

These atrocities frequently involve the extrajudicial killing of thousands of civilians, perpetrated either by state security forces assisted by state-supported self-defense groups or by non-state armed factions. Between January 2019 and May 2020 alone, hundreds of civilians met their deaths in locations such as Yirgou, Kain Ouro, Banh, Barga, Djibo, and Tawalbougou. Thousands more, including children, languish in inhumane conditions within prisons, particularly in Kaya and Loumbila, following arbitrary arrests and secret detentions, often without access to magistrates or legal counsel. Furthermore, a pervasive atmosphere of discrimination and stigmatization has developed around these communities, exacerbating their already dire situation and contributing to severe food insecurity.

Despite numerous reports and formal complaints lodged with the judiciary, Burkinabe authorities have shown a persistent failure to identify and hold accountable those responsible for these violations. We implore the Human Rights Council to recommend that the authorities in Burkina Faso implement all necessary security and judicial measures to establish a protective environment for this vulnerable group.

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) stands as the leading global coalition of NGOs dedicated to combating torture and ill-treatment, boasting over 200 member organizations across more than 90 countries. Its international secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.