As the 45th session of the Human Rights Council draws to a close, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and its partners from the SOS-Torture Network urge the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all Council members to focus on the Fulani populations in Burkina Faso. These communities find themselves caught in the escalating counter-terrorism efforts across the Sahel region.

Since 2016, the Fulani in Burkina Faso have endured severe human rights violations, some of which may constitute international crimes. The extent of massacres in certain areas suggests a potential for ethnic cleansing, given their widespread, systematic, and massive nature.

These incidents frequently involve the extrajudicial execution of thousands of civilians, carried out 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, hundreds of civilians were brutally killed in locations such as Yirgou, Kain Ouro, Banh, Barga, Djibo, and Tawalbougou. Furthermore, thousands more civilians, including children, languish in inhumane conditions within prisons, notably in Kaya and Loumbila. These detentions often stem from arbitrary arrests and secret detentions, with detainees denied access to magistrates or legal counsel. Compounding these issues, a pervasive environment of discrimination and stigmatization has emerged against these communities, exacerbating their struggle with food insecurity.

Despite numerous reports and formal complaints lodged with the courts, Burkinabé authorities have failed to identify and hold accountable those responsible for these egregious violations. We call upon 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 vulnerable group.

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Iolanda Jaquemet, Communications Director
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The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) stands as the foremost 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 located in Geneva, Switzerland.