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Government-backed Militias in Burkina Faso Accused of Abuses

Henry Wilkins

   OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO - Theattack in Burkina Faso last month that
   killed 160 civilians was in retaliation for activity by pro-government
   civilian militias in the area, according to Human Rights Watch.

   In the daytime,DaoudaDiallois a scientist. By night, he is one of
   Burkina Faso's most prominent human rights campaigners.

   He runs the Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of
   Communities, a campaigning group set up in the wake of
   theYirgoumassacre, an attackthatsaw around 200 peoplekilled, mostly
   from the Fulani ethnic group, in early 2019.

   In Burkina Faso's conflict withtheIslamic Stategroupand al-Qaida, the
   number of civilians killed by security forces has often come close to
   the numbers killed by the terror groups.

   Diallohas beendeeply affected by this.

   "I'ma very sensitive person-- Ilike to help the widow and the orphan,
   the vulnerable. '¦I'vedevotedmytime to this, butit's not an easy
   job,andIgo unpaid.I do itforhumanitarianreasons," Diallo told VOA.
   FILE - Women and children walk in a makeshift site for displaced people
   in Kongoussi, Burkina Faso, June 4, 2020.

   Dialloalso points out that one of the government's most controversial
   policies is a lawthatallowspreexisting civilian militias, known
   askoglweogos, to be armed and trained by the government.

   The new force is called the Volunteers for the Defense of the
   Homeland,or VDPs.

   When the law was created in 2020, Human Rights Watch said arming poorly
   trained civilians could lead to abuses.

   So far,at least 95 people have been killed in38 incidents of violence
   against civilians by VDPs, according to data from the Armed Conflict
   Location and Event Data Project.

   A man, whose full name has been withheld to protect his safety, says he
   watched as VDPs killed two of his neighbors after accusing them of
   being terrorists.

   "...Issa was sick and decided to go to the market. The VDPs shot at him
   there. Issa ran to his house, where they killed him. Bad things
   happen.That's why I had to run away.The militias are chasing you; the
   terrorists are chasing you."

   Burkina Faso'sMinistry ofDefense did not respond to VOA's interview
   request about the incident.

   One VDP leader, who askedto not be named, said most VDPs simply want to
   defend their homeland, many having had terrifying encounters with
   terrorists themselves.

   "The terrorists came and burnedmy house. They were looking for me, but
   fortunately I was not around. They also killed some of my neighbors and
   burnedtheir houses as well. It's because of that I really felt I had to
   join the VDPs," he said.
   A member of a civilian militia looks on at a rally in Zagtouli, to
   celebrate the organization's sixth anniversary in Zagtouli, Burkina
   Faso, Feb. 14, 2021. (Photo: Henry Wilkins / VOA)

   A leader of the ruling MPP party admits it's possible VDPs commit
   abuses--but says they are necessary.

   "Within the framework of the fight against terrorism, we are obliged to
   face the fact that the VDPs make a very big contribution," said
   LassaneSawadogo, MPP Party Executive Secretary.

   As widespread protests against insecurity in Burkina Faso have swept
   the country in recent weeks, PresidentRochMarc ChristianKaboresaid he
   will reform the VDPs as one way of improving security.

   Diallosays the government should take corrective action quickly.
   However, the government has yet to say what its actions will be.

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