By Tata Mbunwe
A report published by the international organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Burkina Faso army of participating in the killing of over 130 civilians in March.
But this revelation has triggered a heatwave of criticism from supporters of Ibrahim Traore, the country’s young, charismatic leader who has captured the hearts of many Africans.
His online army, most of them people who are wooed by his anti-imperialist policies, sees the HRW report as a Western propaganda tool to black list Traore and further destabilize Burkina Faso.
The country is currently soaked in a war against jihadists and other armed groups, which reportedly control up to 40 percent of its territory.
Traore, who swore to tackle the insecurity after seizing power through a 2022 coup, is at odds with human rights advocates who have repeatedly scrutinized his army’s human rights record.
Human Rights Watch’s report, published on May 12, accuses the Burkinabe army of participating in the killing of over 130 civilians by pro-government militias and Al-Qaeda-backed groups.
HRW says this occurred in March in the village of Solenzo, when Burkinabe special forces conducted a weeks-long campaign called Operation Green Whirlwind 2 in the Western side of the country.
“Mass killings of civilians by government security forces, militias, and Islamist armed groups amount to war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes,” the organisation said in a report.
“The viral videos of the atrocities by pro-government militias near Solenzo sent shock waves through Africa’s Sahel region, but they told only part of the story,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at HRW.
To compile the report, Human Rights Watch says it interviewed 27 witnesses to the attacks, two militia members, and four journalists and civil society members, and reviewed at least 11 videos showing abuses by pro-government militias.
However, the report has triggered a heatwave of criticism from Ibrahim Traore’s supporters online, who see it as a Western-sponsored tool against the anti-colonialist.
“Here goes the West again tryna justify an attack on Burkina Faso. Not this time unfortunately. Africa is woke now, you already killed Gaddafi, hands off Traore,” commented Facebook user Richard Gondwe, when the BBC shared the story.
“No amount of negative news from the Western media will shake our belief. We know their game: spread fear, divide people, and control resources. Ibrahim Traoré is here to stay, Inshallah. They are only frustrated because they can’t control our minerals anymore. Africa is waking up,” wrote Musa Johm.
Ibrahim Jabbie wrote: “You lied to us about gadaffi. Now you guys want to use the same strategy to President Ibrahim Traore. This time it will not work.”
Also, Chifundo Kanyenda observed: “People are dying in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, & Pakistan…but the Human Rights Watch is watching as per its name. It has the nerve to make some fiction about Burkina Faso lol.”
The backlash against Human Rights Watch’s reports tells of the huge popularity Ibrahim Traore has given to Burkina Faso during his three years as President.
He is among Africa’s most popular Heads of State and many, especially young people, are charmed by his charisma and fearless anti-imperialist stance.
Under him, Burkina Faso has severed ties with former colonial master France.
In early 2023, Traoré ordered the withdrawal of French troops from the country, ended several military cooperation agreements with France, and revoked mining contracts obtained by Western companies in his drive for Burkina Faso to control its own resources.