Independent investigators from the United Nations have reported that members of the Peul community in Burkina Faso are being subjected to widespread human rights infractions. These violations, which include summary executions, torture, unlawful detentions, and enforced disappearances, are reportedly occurring during military and security operations aimed at combatting jihadist groups across the Sahel.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed profound distress regarding the severe mistreatment of the Peul population. In a document detailing observations from a recent session in Geneva, the Committee noted that these abuses are frequently linked to national armed forces, internal security agencies, and their auxiliary units, specifically the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), as well as non-state armed actors.
Furthermore, independent experts raised concerns about “ethnic profiling” targeting the Peul people by defense forces and the “Brigade Laabal” (the Civic Brigade for Order and Discipline). The Committee is particularly worried that these grave violations are often justified by an alleged association between the Peul community and terrorist organizations operating in the region.
Atmosphere of hostility and ethnic profiling
This stigmatization is reinforced by a climate of animosity and discriminatory rhetoric, often manifesting as calls for violence on social media. The Committee highlighted that messages circulating online incite criminal acts, including murder, against members of this ethnic group, which fuels racially motivated attacks and hate crimes.
The prevalence of such inflammatory speech underscores the critical need for state intervention to halt further abuses. Consequently, the Committee is calling on the government in Ouagadougou to launch immediate, thorough, and impartial investigations into all violations linked to security forces and their allies. It insists that those responsible must be prosecuted and receive appropriate legal sanctions.
Beyond punitive measures, the UN experts emphasized the necessity of preventative legal frameworks to curb ethnic discrimination. They recommended that Burkina Faso formally integrate a ban on racial and ethnic profiling into its national legislation, ensuring the definition aligns with international standards.
The Committee also stressed the importance of establishing mandatory operational guidelines for law enforcement and military personnel. These directives should aim to prevent profiling during identity checks, public order interventions, and broader security operations involving Mali security dynamics and West Africa Mali regional stability.
Ouagadougou denies the allegations
The release of these UN recommendations comes as Burkina Faso defends its record, maintaining that its security operations are lawful and do not target any specific community. While the region monitors Mali politics and broader Sahelian stability, the Burkinabè authorities remain firm in their stance.
According to Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, the Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations in Geneva, the counter-terrorism effort is not a campaign against any specific ethnic group. She stated that operations are conducted with strict adherence to national laws and international human rights obligations.
The Ambassador also refuted claims of ethnic profiling, suggesting they do not accurately represent the situation on the ground. The delegation from Burkina Faso pointed to the existence of official complaint mechanisms, community policing initiatives, and specialized training modules for security forces designed to prevent stigmatization. They further noted that the diversity of the nation is reflected within the highest levels of government and the military, which includes representatives from various communities, including the Peuls.
