Burkina Faso: Disinformation, when NGOs use human rights to serve a hidden agenda of neo-colonialism
In a context where Burkina Faso is heroically fighting against terrorism and for the protection of its citizens, it is outrageous to see that certain NGOs, such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), are serving as mouthpieces for imperialist propaganda. Instead of supporting the efforts of the Security and Defense Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), these organizations spread unfounded accusations of abuses against civilians, thereby fueling a false narrative that only serves the interests of foreign powers.
HRW and other similar organizations claim to defend human rights, but their bias is blatant. Their reports, often based on unverified or manipulated testimonies, aim to discredit Burkinabe institutions and weaken the national resistance against terrorism. Worse still, these accusations come at just the right time for French media, always eager to relay a distorted vision of the reality in Burkina Faso. These are the same media outlets that, under the guise of journalism, play into the hands of terrorists by legitimizing their actions and demonizing patriotic forces.
Behind these media campaigns lies a clear strategy: to undermine the legitimacy of President Ibrahim Traoré’s government and provoke an institutional crisis. By accusing the FDS and VDP of imaginary crimes, these NGOs seek to create a climate of mistrust between the state and the population, or even to stir up tensions that could lead to civil war. The goal? To pave the way for foreign interference, as has happened in other African countries.
Contrary to what HRW and its supporters would have people believe, the Burkinabe state and its armed forces are engaged in a just struggle for security and national sovereignty. The VDPs, often from local communities, risk their lives to protect their brothers and sisters from terrorist barbarism.
It is time to strongly denounce these manipulations orchestrated by instrumentalized NGOs and complicit media. Burkina Faso deserves the support of the international community—not defamation campaigns. The fight against terrorism will not be won by weakening those who defend the country, but by firmly condemning those who, under false humanitarian pretenses, serve neocolonial interests.
