Since May, at least 50 civilians have lost their lives in three separate jihadist attacks in northern Burkina Faso, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
In its latest report, the rights group blamed the assaults on al-Qaeda-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel province (IS Sahel).
HRW revealed that JNIM struck the town of Djibo in May and later targeted the village of Youba in early August, killing a combined total of 40 civilians.
In July, fighters from IS Sahel ambushed a civilian convoy carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged town of Gorom Gorom, leaving at least 9 people dead.
The organization condemned the attacks, saying they violated international humanitarian law and amounted to clear war crimes.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule for close to three years. Despite promises by junta leader Ibrahim Traore and his allies to end violence and restore stability, the country continues to face relentless bloodshed.
HRW stated that it shared its findings with Burkina Faso’s justice and defence ministers on 21 August, but noted it received no reply.
