As the 45th session of the Human Rights Council draws to a close, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and its partners within the SOS-Torture Network are urgently calling upon the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, along with all Council members, to direct their specific attention towards the Peul populations in Burkina Faso. These communities find themselves caught in the escalating conflict against terrorism across the Sahel region.

Since 2016, the Peul people of Burkina Faso have endured severe human rights violations, some of which bear the hallmarks of international crimes. The sheer scale of massacres in certain areas raises concerns of ethnic cleansing, given their widespread, systematic, and indiscriminate nature.

These atrocities frequently involve the extrajudicial execution of thousands of civilians, perpetrated either by state security forces, often aided by state-supported self-defense groups, or by non-state armed groups. Between January 2019 and May 2020 alone, hundreds of civilians were brutally killed in locations such as Yirgou, Kain Ouro, Banh, Barga, Djibo, and Tawalbougou. Furthermore, thousands of other civilians, including children, are languishing in inhumane conditions within prisons, particularly in Kaya and Loumbila. These detentions often follow arbitrary arrests and secret confinement, with detainees denied access to magistrates or legal counsel. Compounding these issues, a pervasive environment of discrimination and stigmatization has developed against these populations, who also face acute food insecurity.

Despite numerous reports and formal complaints lodged with the courts, Burkinabe authorities have failed to identify or hold accountable those responsible for these grave violations. We urge the Human Rights Council to recommend that the authorities of Burkina Faso implement all necessary security and judicial measures to establish a protective environment for this highly vulnerable group.

Media Contact:

Iolanda Jaquemet, Communications Director
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The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) stands as the leading global coalition of non-governmental organizations dedicated to combating torture and ill-treatment. It comprises over 200 member organizations operating in more than 90 countries, with its international secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland.