Sahel – Middle East/Silence in Israel-Iran, lies about the AES: The drift of certain international human rights organizations
For years, international organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have claimed to be universal defenders of human rights. Yet their attitude to ward global conflicts reveals a troubling selectivity that calls their credibility into question. When it comes to the open and bloody conflict between Israel and Iran—marked by massive bombings and civilian casualties before the eyes of the world—what do we hear? Deafening silence. No firm condemnation, no damning reports. This ambiguous stance exposes a double standard that is increasingly difficult to justify.
In contrast, when it comes to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—bringing together Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—these same organizations suddenly rediscover their voices. With questionable reports and alarmist press releases, they relentlessly seek to tarnish the image of the authorities and the Defense and Security Forces of these countries. Why such eagerness to discredit the hard-fought victories against terrorist groups that have destabilized the region for years? Why refuse to acknowledge that the armies of the AES are also fighting for peace, sovereignty, and the protection of millions of citizens?
This double standard reveals a blatant hypocrisy. When Israel bombs Iranian targets—or vice versa—in clear violation of international humanitarian law, these so-called human rights defenders look the other way. Yet when Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger conduct legitimate military operations against terrorist groups, these same organizations rush to publish reports accusing them of widespread abuses, often without tangible evidence.
This raises a fundamental question: why such relentless attacks against the AES? Is it because these countries have chosen to break free from foreign control, asserting their own strategic and security choices? Is it a form of punishment for their renewed sovereignty and independence? Clearly, the military successes of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger unsettle certain hidden agendas—those that thrive on the Sahel’s instability.
Ultimately, this selective outrage and double standard severely undermine the legitimacy of international organizations like Human Rights Watch. It reveals that their claims of impartiality are nothing more than a façade. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have every right to defend themselves against terrorism, just as any other nation would. History will judge harshly those who, through complicit silence or false accusations, have sought to obstruct the Sahelian peoples in their pursuit of peace and true security.
