Analysing Burkina Faso’s Descent into Chaos

Not very long ago, Burkina Faso had one of the bloodiest attacks in decades. More than a thousand civilians have died since the rebellion that originated in Mali began to spread throughout the nation. The previous colonial power, France, continues to impact Burkina Faso, especially the Sahil region significantly. Known as the Upper Volta until 1960, Burkina Faso was an independent French colony. Following the overthrow of Blaise Compaoré, the nation’s second president and leader for nearly thirty years, the extremist forces gained traction in Burkina Faso. Operation Barkhane, a counterinsurgency initiative started by the French in 2014, was intended to slow the advancement of extremist groups. The country saw no appreciable change after French intervention, and extremists’ hold over the country grew even worse. The country’s anti-French sentiments mainly increased as long as the security situation didn’t improve despite counterinsurgency attempts.

Meanwhile, in 2022, there were two coups in Burkina Faso. After the second coup in January 2023, Burkina Faso’s government allowed France a month to remove its troops. The military agreement from 2018 that gave France the authority to suppress and combat insurgencies on their soil was also terminated. In February 2023, the French troops formally left the country in response to Burkina Faso’s request. The nation also requested the assistance of Russian mercenaries to help them repel insurgent groups and safeguard their security; however, the strategy backfired as the Russian troops were forced to evacuate the area once Putin launched the operation against Ukraine. Approximately 600 people were killed in a horrific attack that took place on August 24, 2024, in Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, which is located close to the town of Kia. Kia is a strategically important location in north-central Burkina Faso that houses the remaining military unit that stands between the terrorists and the capital.

While the extremist organisation claimed to have killed 300 people, the United Nations reported that approximately 200 individuals had died. According to CNN, which cited a security report from the French government, up to 600 people may have died. The attackers were members of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a militant organisation associated with Al-Qaeda that operates out of Mali and has expanded throughout West Africa, including Burkina Faso. March 2017 saw its founding. The group has taken advantage of the economic fragility by allying with a few small towns. Additionally, they exploit social and geographic divides, frequently appealing to underprivileged populations by giving them material resources, such as the Fulani and Tuareg tribes. The tragedy occurred when military officials ordered the residents to build a network of trenches around the town as a defence against radicals. Following their attack on the fortifications, members of the extreme organisation falsely claimed that the civilians had been utilised as combatants. In the wake of the raid, CNN reports that the extremists also took control of military ambulances and weapons. The attacks have gotten more regular despite the government’s efforts to enlist paramilitary volunteers to combat the extremists, and there is now no apparent end in sight. Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the UN, strongly denounced the assault.

Between 50 and 60 per cent of a nation’s land is uncontrolled by the government. By 2024, Burkina Faso surpassed nations like Afghanistan and Iraq as the most terrorist-affected country, as determined by the Institute of Economics and Peace’s Global Terrorism Index. According to an International Rescue Committee assessment, the insurgency has caused 2 million people in the area to be displaced. Both the insurgents and the government forces have massacred people. The military regime has frequently faced accusations of violating human rights and executing children without cause. Following the military takeover, the number of killings by the government increased significantly. As the security situation worsens, the military government has also grown intolerant of criticism. As a result, there are currently restrictions on the media in the nation, with most news being restricted. Voice of America and BBC Africa’s radio broadcasts were shut down by Burkina Faso in April for two weeks because they reported on a Human Rights Watch report that charged the army with extrajudicial killings.

The popular RFI radio station in France, which broadcasts on the Sahil, had its radio frequency withdrawn by the government last month. The most recent one occurred on October 7, 2024, when the government banned Voice of America from airing for three months due to the broadcaster’s comments regarding insurgency. The government claimed the program was demeaning Burkina Faso and neighbouring Mali troops. Additionally, local news outlets were prohibited from referring to any reports from foreign media. In Burkina Faso, the insurgency has only grown stronger despite military efforts. The primary cause may be a need for more faith in the government. The administration must win back the populace’s trust and pursue peace initiatives. Instead of military takeovers, the people should be allowed to make their own decisions about the direction of their nation. One of the reasons why militants are taking advantage of the nation’s high unemployment rate is a lack of economic prospects. Suppose the current government hopes to eradicate the threat posed by insurgent organisations. In that case, it must work to create jobs for young people and instil the value of education at the local level.

Authors

1. Abdul Rehman, PhD Political Science, SJRI, St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560027, India, Ph: +91 8169018417, Email: - [email protected], ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0685-780X.
2. Urvi Begum, Master’s Student, Department of Political Science, St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru-560027, India, Email: [email protected].