• Burkina Faso military and militias killed over 130 ethnic Fulani civilians in March.
• The attacks were part of a military operation near Solenzo, prompting widespread displacement.
• Human Rights Watch calls for accountability and investigations into the killings.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that at least 130 civilians belonging to the ethnic Fulani community were killed by Burkina Faso's government forces and allied militias during a military operation near the town of Solenzo in March. Witness testimonies indicate that the attack involved not only the military but also pro-government militias known as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). "The attacks resulted in 'widespread civilian deaths and massive displacement,'” the organization stated, highlighting the dire circumstances facing the Fulani pastoralists, who are frequently accused of supporting Islamist militants, a claim they have denied, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

The brutal operation, ongoing since late February and culminating in early April, involved hundreds of troops backed by military drones. Eyewitness accounts revealed the scale of the violence, with one Fulani herder lamenting, “Many women and children died because they could not run.” The Fulani community has since fled en masse into neighboring Mali, fearing for their lives, according to reports from BBC and Africanews.

After the attacks, jihadist groups, particularly the Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), retaliated by targeting communities they believed collaborated with the military. According to HRW, “The military's involvement in these mass killings is corroborated by video evidence shared online.” Additionally, the report noted that “military helicopters and drones surveilled the area,” indicating a coordinated operation which resulted in significant civilian casualties, as outlined by multiple sources including BBC and Africanews.

The situation in Burkina Faso has deteriorated significantly, with over 60% of the country reportedly outside government control due to ongoing violence and instability. Human Rights Watch has urged the Burkinabe government to investigate these massacres and hold the responsible parties accountable while also highlighting the contradictory nature of the military's promises of stability since seizing power in 2022. Analysts criticize the junta’s approach, which relies on poorly trained civilian militias that only escalate ethnic tensions, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.