Burkina Faso Accuses European Union of Unacceptable Interference in Internal Affairs

OUAGADOUGOU — Burkina Faso has formally denounced the European Union for what it describes as a clear and unacceptable interference in its domestic matters. This response follows a European Union statement dated April 29, 2024, which referenced allegations of civilian massacres attributed to Burkina Faso’s military forces as reported by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

According to Burkina Information Agency, the European Union’s reliance on the HRW report—which claims that Burkinabe fighting forces committed massacres in the villages of Nodin and Soro—constitutes an interference. The government criticized the HRW report as being superficial and conducted via telephone surveys from a great distance, lacking serious investigative methodology and reliable data. It expressed surprise that the European Union, known for valuing scientific rigor and thorough procedures, would base its actions on such conclusions.

Furthermore, the government has rejected the European Union’s directive to commence an independent and impartial inquiry to identify and prosecute those responsible for the alleged atrocities. Ouagadougou maintains that local investigations are already in progress and views the EU’s actions as an overt and improper intrusion into its sovereign affairs. The government also reiterated its confidence in the professionalism and dedication of its military forces amid ongoing anti-terror operations.