Overview

• Human Rights Watch has documented the March massacre of at least 130 Fulani civilians by Burkina Faso's military and allied militias near Solenzo, with evidence of command oversight by army aircraft.
• The victims, primarily women, children, and elderly Fulani civilians, were targeted under accusations of supporting jihadist groups, leading to mass displacement and community destruction.
• Jihadist group JNIM carried out retaliatory attacks in Djibo and Koulpelogo on May 11–12, killing dozens of soldiers and civilians, with reports of executions and widespread destruction in Djibo.
• The military junta, which seized power in 2022, denies involvement in the March killings, despite mounting evidence, and has not commented on the latest jihadist attacks.
• Over 60% of Burkina Faso remains outside government control, with the ongoing violence displacing over 2.1 million people and leaving 6.5 million reliant on humanitarian aid.