The Sourou province in western Burkina Faso has become the scene of a major massacre following the withdrawal of regular forces, raising alarm over the country’s deteriorating security situation
Ouagadougou —
Approximately 200 people were killed last Thursday in brutal attacks carried out by armed men on three villages in the Sourou province, located in western Burkina Faso. According to Radio France Internationale (RFI), the massacres occurred just days after government forces withdrew from the area during operations aimed at pursuing armed groups.
Local sources report that the assailants specifically targeted civilians—particularly young people recently enrolled in the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), local militia groups that fight alongside government troops against jihadist insurgents.
“There was a previous truce with the armed groups, but now they accuse the villages of breaking the pact by cooperating with the government,” said one local resident, speaking anonymously.
Despite having entered into a fragile ceasefire agreement with local armed factions, the villages are now accused of siding with government forces. These claims were reportedly used by the attackers to justify the retaliatory killings.
The recent massacre comes amid a week of violent confrontations between armed groups and state forces, which had already resulted in the deaths of several soldiers. In March, the Solenzo region witnessed another bloodbath, where over 50 people from the Fulani ethnic group were killed.
Security conditions in Burkina Faso have continued to worsen since the jihadist insurgency began in 2015. Despite support from local militias, the army has struggled to contain the spread of terrorist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The recent military withdrawal appears to have further exposed rural populations to extreme violence.
Humanitarian organizations estimate that over 2 million people have been internally displaced, while humanitarian access to many regions remains highly restricted.
Although the transitional military government pledged to restore security through a tougher strategy, this new wave of violence casts serious doubts on its effectiveness. The killings have prompted renewed calls for a sustainable and inclusive political solution to bring lasting peace to Burkina Faso.
