At 36, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, now adorned with fresh captain’s insignia, presides over a presidential palace he secured not through democratic elections—which he has conveniently abolished. This political maneuver allows for a direct narrative, bypassing voters to address journalists with his version of events.
For two hours, from the historic Koulouba palace, the young captain presented a meticulously curated report to six assembled journalists. He painted a vibrant picture: the national army reclaiming vast territories, a burgeoning industrial sector, burgeoning gold reserves, expanding infrastructure, and an unprecedented era of freedom for the Burkinabè people. The scene, he suggested, was one of national triumph.
The stark contrast of a disturbing report
Yet, while Captain Traoré delivered his optimistic monologue, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a comprehensive 351-page report titled “No One Will Escape.” This extensive document, compiled from testimonies, satellite imagery, and lists of the deceased, unveiled a grim reality: 1,837 civilians had been killed over two and a half years. The perpetrators included the national army, VDP militias, and JNIM jihadists. Disturbingly, the report highlighted that state-affiliated forces were systematically responsible for killings, often aided by drone surveillance and direct orders from above.
The HRW findings detail egregious war crimes and crimes against humanity, specifically pointing to the ethnic targeting of the Fulani community. The report documents summary executions, including 223 civilians (56 of whom were children) in Nondin in February 2024, hundreds more in Baraboulé in December 2023, and 130 Fulani massacred near Solenzo in March 2025. Evidence includes mass graves, chilling survivor testimonies, and corroborating satellite images. Such findings are often dismissed as mere Western conspiracies.
‘Recaptured’ towns and hidden atrocities
Ironically, Captain Traoré proudly cited towns like Baraboulé and Pétégoli as examples of successful military recapture. However, HRW’s report provided a darker context, documenting “Operation Tchéfari 2″—meaning “The Warriors’ Honey” in Fulfulde—in these very locations. This operation saw the army responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians across 16 villages. While state television hailed it as a “success,” survivors recount it as a brutal slaughterhouse—a stark divergence in perspective.
Traoré attributes these killings to terrorists disguised in military uniforms, who allegedly film their own atrocities. He implies an impressive level of sophistication for individuals he describes as merely “reading the Quran in the bush,” suggesting they coordinate multiple battalions and deploy military drones before vanishing. This explanation raises significant questions regarding the true perpetrators of these organized massacres.
The unspoken truth: targeting the Fulani
In his two-hour interview, the word “Fulani” was conspicuously absent—not a single mention. This omission is profoundly unsettling, akin to recounting World War II history without acknowledging the Jewish people; it is technically possible but morally reprehensible.
HRW’s investigation meticulously details the systematic targeting of the Fulani community, which constitutes 8% of Burkina Faso’s population. They are collectively accused of terrorism, leading to village-by-village massacres and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. The report even quotes Captain Traoré himself, addressing Fulani leaders in February 2023: “There will be many dead. And it will be more complicated for your community.” His presidential guard chief was reportedly even more explicit, stating: “We will kill them all.” This highlights a severe, unacknowledged ethnic dimension to the conflict.
Freedom of expression: a troubling paradox
Captain Traoré asserts that Burkinabè citizens enjoy “much greater freedom” than those in Europe. Yet, the reality painted by human rights organizations is one where individuals are free to disappear. Journalists have been forcibly abducted and conscripted into militias, independent media outlets shut down, and human rights websites blocked. The electoral commission has been abolished, and the death penalty reinstated, signaling a severe crackdown on dissent.
Furthermore, well-organized networks of pro-junta trolls, known as the “BIR-C” (Rapid Communication Intervention Battalions), actively flood social media platforms with propaganda and deepfakes designed to glorify the captain. The sophistication of this state-sponsored disinformation campaign makes even the propaganda efforts of regimes like North Korea appear rudimentary.
Justice: selective application
Human Rights Watch advocates for Captain Traoré to be investigated for command responsibility, naming six generals in their report. To date, none have faced trial. The junta’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) further suggests an unwillingness to be held accountable. This move is often interpreted as an attempt to evade scrutiny, particularly when there are grave allegations to address.
In a striking display of priorities, Traoré publicly shames corrupt traffic officers caught pocketing 500 CFA francs, framing it as a national scandal. Meanwhile, the massacre of hundreds of civilians by the army is dismissed as “terrorist perfidy.” This contrast reveals a troubling double standard in the application of justice.
Blaming the West: a shield against criticism
Any external criticism, be it a European Parliament resolution, a statement from a French army chief, or reports from NGOs and media, is consistently branded as interference, manipulation, or outright falsehood. Even comprehensive reports like the 351-page HRW document, based on 450 interviews, are dismissed as fake. Everything, it seems, is deemed false except for the official narrative.
While the postcolonial grievance is a legitimate historical fact—France’s exploitation of Africa is undeniable—using this historical truth as an impenetrable shield against accountability for massacring one’s own population echoes the tactics of figures like Robert Mugabe, but at an accelerated pace. Anti-imperialism, it must be stressed, does not confer a license to kill.
In a final, grim irony, Captain Traoré encourages Burkinabè to “have children” because “the land is rich.” Indeed, the land is proving rich enough to bury a growing number of its people.
