Human Rights Watch has accused Burkina Faso’s government of exposing civilians to “unnecessary risk” after a militant assault left at least 133 people dead and hundreds more injured in Barsalogho commune, one of the most devastating strikes yet in the conflict-ravaged nation.

According to a report released on October 29, militants affiliated with al-Qaida carried out an attack on the village, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.

The assault was reportedly led by the group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which targeted villagers allegedly forced to assist Burkina Faso’s security forces in digging defensive trenches around local outposts and settlements.

Human Rights Watch’s findings indicate that militants targeted villagers working under government orders, firing upon groups of men and children in Barsalogho. Using video evidence and witness testimonies, the organization confirmed that “at least 133 people were killed,” many of them young boys and an additional 200 civilians were injured.

“The massacre in Barsalogho is the latest example of atrocities by Islamist armed groups against civilians whom the government has put at unnecessary risk,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, in the report.

The JNIM group, which later claimed responsibility for the attack, alleged that its actions were directed at individuals they believed to be part of government-affiliated militias. However, Human Rights Watch contends that many of the victims were non-combatants forced to assist in security operations.

Junta’s Reliance on Civilians Raises Concern

In Burkina Faso, approximately half of the territory is now beyond government control, with militants encircling the capital. The ongoing violence has displaced over two million people and claimed thousands of lives.

This unrelenting cycle of violence contributed to two military coups in 2022, after which the junta promised to restore stability. Despite security alliances with Russia and other countries in the Sahel region, attacks have continued to surge.

The junta has increasingly relied on armed civilian auxiliaries known as Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, or VDP, to confront the insurgency. Human Rights Watch warns that this approach places civilians in grave danger, as they often become targets for militant groups who view them as government collaborators. “The government’s reliance on VDP forces is exposing civilians to attacks and drawing them into the conflict,” Allegrozzi said.

Accounts of Forced Labor and Abuse

The Human Rights Watch report reveals that soldiers allegedly compelled local men to dig defensive trenches without compensation, with some witnesses claiming they were threatened or physically abused if they refused.

Many resisted participating in trench-digging due to fear of attracting militant retaliation, but reports allege that Burkina Faso’s military coerced them into working regardless.

Responding to the report, Burkina Faso’s Justice Minister, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, countered these claims. He stated that “forced labor was forbidden by law in Burkina Faso,” and asserted that there was no conclusive evidence supporting allegations of civilians being coerced to dig trenches.

As such, Burkina Faso’s population continues to suffer. With the increasing intensity of militant attacks, the government’s reliance on civilians has sparked mounting concerns from international watchdogs amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis.