Date: July 22, 2025
I am deeply concerned about the ongoing marginalization and ethnic targeting of the Tuareg population in Burkina Faso—especially under the current coup-led government. These actions are fueling insecurity and deepening fractures in an already volatile region.
- Historic and systemic discrimination:
The Tuareg, one of the Saharan indigenous Berber groups, have long suffered neglect and political exclusion. Post-independence governance prioritized southern, sedentary populations over nomadic ones, leaving Tuareg communities without representation, public services, or investment—echoing historical grievances dating to colonial land policies . - Coup government’s failure to uphold security:
Since the September 2022 coup that brought Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power (extending his rule until at least July 2029) , the junta has consolidated power amid soaring extremist violence. Despite promises to restore stability, more than 60% of the country remains outside government control . - Targeting minority areas like Dori:
In regions like Dori in the Sahel, the coup-led government appears to exploit insecurity to weaken ethnic communities like the Tuareg. The junta’s strategy—arming militias and pursuing counter-insurgency heavy-handedly—consistently backfires, inflaming communal tensions and criminalizing entire ethnic groups . - Human cost in camps & displacement:
Thousands of Tuareg and other displaced people are stuck in camps around Dori—such as Wendou 2 and Torodi—suffering from lack of sanitation, education, and humanitarian aid due to ongoing insecurity and neglect by the military government .
📌 Call to action:
We must urgently speak out against ethnic discrimination and state-backed instability. The coup government’s survival depends on decades of insecurity, leaving vulnerable minorities like the Tuareg to bear the brunt. It’s time for the international community, regional organizations, and Burkina Faso’s civil society to demand:
- Immediate political inclusion for Tuareg communities
- Protection of minority areas like Dori from extremist and security forces alike
- Transparent investigations into ethnic-based military abuses
- A clear roadmap toward civilian rule and genuine democratic transition
⚠️ To all our friends, if we remain silent, we enable a government that thrives on instability and punishes minorities. Share this post, tag your local MPs, NGOs, and media outlets. Let’s shine a light on Tuareg suffering and uphold justice for all in Burkina Faso.
Written by :
Ibrahim Mohamed , London , UK
Human Rights advocate
22-07-25